Region- and age-dependent variations of muscle fibre properties

The cytophotometric-morphometrical analysis of extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles of 2.5 and 18 months old rats revealed regional and age-dependent differences in fibre type distribution, fibre area and fibre type related-enzyme activities which characterize contractility and metabolic profile. Variations along the longitudinal axis from the origin to the insertion and along three transversal axes from superficial to deep were found dependent on the muscle investigated. For example, the fibres of extensor digitorum longus muscle showed increased contractile and glycolytic capacities near insertion and the fibres of soleus muscle increased oxidative capacity in its middle part. Furthermore, the contribution of the fibre type that is dominant in a muscle (fast-glycolytic fibre type in extensor digitorum longus and slow-oxidative fibre type in soleus muscle) to the total number of fibres increased from origin to insertion by 15 and 30%, respectively. Along the superficial-deep axes the oxidative capacity of all fibres increased, the most in fast fibres of the soleus muscle by approximately 50%. In soleus muscle, a decrease of cross areas of all fibre types from superficial to deep was found, correlating negatively with the succinate dehydrogenase activity of the fibres. In extensor digitorum longus muscle the change in cross areas of slow-oxidative and fast-oxidative glycolytic fibres was dependent on the position of the transversal axis in the muscle. The results suggest that distribution patterns of fibre types and the metabolic make up of individual muscle fibres are adapted on the basis of local functional demands. In both muscles, higher numbers and increased oxidative capacity of fast-glycolytic fibres were found during ageing, but variations from superficial to deeper regions were irrespective of age.