Muscle structure and function in the goose, quail, pheasant, guinea hen, and chicken

1. Metabolic functions, fiber composition and, in some cases, mitochondrial morphology have been investigated in the pectoralis major and sartorius of the goose, quail, pheasant, guinea-hen, broiler chicken and laying hen. 2. In the pectoralis only two types of fibers, red and white twitch fibers, are found in all birds studied except in the quail, where a third twitch fiber also occurs. Red fibers form the main part in the quail and goose, white fibers in the rest. In the sartorius at least three types of fibers, two twitch and one tonus are found in all birds except in the guinea-hen where only two fibers can be found. 3. The metabolic pattern of the muscles, based on determination of specific activities of metabolic key enzymes, varies greatly among the birds. Three groups can be discerned from the ratio between aerobic and anaerobic activities or between fatty acid oxidation and carbohydrate metabolism. The metabolic patterns are reflected in the fiber combinations of the muscles. 4. The size and number of the mitochondria vary among different animals and different fiber types. The metabolism of red and white fibers is discussed.