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Updated: Aug 7, 2025

Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Mysteries of Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types Using the MyDoBID Technique
Published on: September 22, 2023
Muscle fiber type and metabolic profiles of four muscles from the African black ostrich
Tertius A Kohn1, Megan J Anley2, S'thandiwe N Magwaza3
1Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535. South Africa.
Abstract:
Muscle fiber type, fiber cross-sectional area (CSA), enzyme activities (citrate synthase (CS), 3-hydroxyacetyl Co A dehydrogenase (3HAD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and phosphofructokinase (PFK)) and glycogen content were analyzed in the M. iliotibialis cranialis (ITC), M. iliotibialis lateralis, M. gastrocnemius (G) and M. fibularis longus (FL) muscles from 24 ostriches. Type I and II fiber proportions were similar across the 4 muscles, but the ITC had overall the smallest fibers. CS activity was the highest in the ITC, but similar between the remainder of the muscles. 3HAD activities were very low in all muscles, ranging between 1.9 and 2.7 μmol/min/g protein, indicating poor β-oxidation. The ITC also had the lowest PFK activity. Glycogen content averaged ∼85 mmol/kg dry weight across the muscles with large intramuscular variations. The 4 ostrich muscles present with low fat oxidation capacity and low glycogen content, which could have significant implications on meat quality attributes.
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