B. Zawadowska et M. Muntener, CORRELATION OF MATPASE, PARVALBUMIN, AND CYTOCHROME-C-OXIDASE IN RAT SKELETAL-MUSCLE FIBERS, Folia Biologica, 45(3-4), 1997, pp. 97-101
Muscle fibre typing is conventionally performed on unfixed frozen sect
ions. Within the particular classes of fibre types mATPase correlates
well with the type of myosin heavy chain (MHC). However, investigation
of other properties, e.g., parvalbumin (PV) level, cannot be determin
ed on unfixed frozen sections. Determination of PV, which correlates w
ith the relaxation time, is performed immunohistochemically on fixed t
issue. By that method a comparison of mATPase activity and the amount
of PV within the same muscle fibre is difficult. The present method, c
ombining histochemistry of mATPase and cytochrome c oxidase with parva
lbumin immunohistochemistry on consecutive sections, allows the distin
ction of six fibre types: I, IB, IIA, IIB, IIAB, IIX, and a C fibre po
pulation without division into IC and IIC fibres. The advantages and d
isadvantages of the present method are discussed.