K. Deaton et al., VARIATION IN THE ACTIVITY OF CITRATE SYNTHASE WITHIN THE PECTORALIS OF THE BARNACLE GOOSE BRANTA LEUCOPSIS, Journal of avian biology, 27(4), 1996, pp. 354-356
The mass-specific activity of citrate synthase (CS) is often used as a
n indicator of the aerobic capacity of the pectoralis muscle. We inves
tigated whether there is variation in CS activity within the pectorali
s muscle of the Barnacle Goose. In general, no significant variation m
as found except at the anterior site nearest the sternum where a signi
ficant difference was found between the peripheral and deep sites. We
conclude that for comparisons of CS activity within large migratory sp
ecies, samples should be taken from the uniform central area of the mu
scle, but for intraspecies studies on factors affecting aerobic capaci
ty, samples should be taken from the anterior sternal site at differin
g depths, as this is the most variable area where adaptations to these
factors may occur.