[Evaluation of a histochemical method specific for myosin ATPase activity in the masticatory muscles of the rat]

A biological study of masticatory muscle behaviour (Divry and Westphal, 1991) suggested the analysis of physiologic correlates (biologic parameters related to a behavioural event) such as histochemical reactions of muscular fibres studied by M-ATPase and SDH activities. For such investigations, routine methods are needed. In the present study, a modification of the original method of Tunell and Hart (1977) was used, in which three features of the original alkaline preincubation method (composition, incubation time and pH) were modified. These allowed a single step differentiation of the various fibre types found in rat masticatory muscles, for which the classical technics gave only a weak contrast, not suitable for image analysis. Acid preincubation was also tested but failed to give new information. By combining this modified technic with SDH staining (Nachlas, 1957) a classification of fibres into 12 theoretical types was proposed.