Comparison of foetal metabolic differentiation in three cattle muscles

Metabolic differentiation of Semitendinosus (ST), Cutaneus trunci (CT) and Masseter (MA) in cattle foetuses aged from 110 to 260 days was studied by measuring isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH, oxidative) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, glycolytic) activities. The five LDH isoenzymes were separated by electrophoresis and assayed by densitometry. ICDH activity increased from 210 days onwards in the three muscles but more intensively in MA (oxidative). LDH activity increased from 170 days onwards in ST, 180 days onwards in CT and only from 210 days onwards in MA and was higher in the glycolytic muscles (ST and CT). The proportion of the LDH-M subunit increased during foetal life in glycolytic muscles. At 110 days, it was higher in CT, intermediate in ST and lower in MA. These results show that 1) metabolic differentiation of bovine muscle begins during the last third of foetal life and 2) the proportion of the LDH-M subunit seems to be related to the contractile type of adult muscle from the first stages of foetal life.