Adverse changes in fibre type composition of the human masseter versus biceps brachii muscle during aging

The fibre composition of functionally different regions, the superficial and the deep portions, of the human masseter and the biceps brachii muscles of six elderly subjects (mean age 74 years) was studied by morphological and enzyme-histochemical methods. When compared to previous data for young adults, the masseter muscle from elderly subjects showed a significant decrease in the proportion of type I fibres and an increase of type IM and II fibre types, concomitant with muscle fibre atrophy. In the old biceps, there were no changes in the type I fibre proportion and fibre diameter, but a significant decrease in the type IIB fibre content. The present results of changes in fibre composition, in addition to previous findings of functional deterioration of the old masseter, probably reflect a combination of age related degenerative and adaptive processes within the trigeminal neuromuscular system. When compared with previous findings in young adult masseter, it can be concluded that the human masseter muscle differs from limb muscles both in fibre composition and in structural response of the muscle during aging. These differences between the masseter and the biceps brachii muscle suggest muscle specific alterations during aging probably due to differences in genetical control, functional performance and nerve and hormonal influences.