A morphometric analysis of human muscle fibers with relation to fiber types and adaptations to exercise

Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis of 14 male subjects: 3 long distance runners, 2 world class power lifters and 9 active, although not highly trained, individuals used as controls. The fibers were investigated by electron microscopy and the mitochondrial volume percent, lipid volume percent and Z-line width were analyzed morphometrically. With the combined data a direct correlation was found between mitochondrial volume percent and lipid volume percent, lipid volume percent and Z-line width and mitochondrial volume percent and Z-line width. The muscle fibers were classified as slow-twitch oxidative (SO), fast-twitch-oxidative-glycolytic (FOG) and fast-twitch-glycolytic (FG) based on relationships found in the data and well established properties of muscle fiber types. Although no distinct patterns emerged, a good approximation of fiber type characteristics was obtained, and values for volume percent of central mitochondria, volume percent lipid and Z-line width are reported. The fibers classified as SO were characterized by having wide Z-lines, a high mitochondrial volume percent and high lipid volume percent. The fast-twitch fibers (fibers with narrow Z-lines) were separated into 2 groups, those with high mitochondrial volume percent (FOG) and those with low mitochondrial volume percent (FG). No distinction could be made between the fast-twitch subgroups with regard to Z-line width. The fibers from distance runners differed from those from controls by exhibiting a greater capacity for aerobic activity as evidenced by the increased volume percent of mitochondria and lipid in both slow- and fast-twitch fibers. The high strength, anaerobic activity of the world class power lifters was reflected by the low mitochondrial volume percent of many fast-twitch fibers (FG) and the decreased lipid stores in all fibers.