Comparison of the sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins of twitch and tonic fibres of frog muscle (Rana esculenta)

Abstract

Sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins of a frog mixed muscle (distal cruralis bundle) were investigated and compared to their fast twitch muscle homologues. Histochemical reactions revealed two populations of fibres in this muscle, differing from fast twitch fibres by the intensity of their myofibrillar ATPase reaction and by their mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase activity. The distribution of parvalbumins and LDH isoenzymes in the whole muscle showed some features of tonic muscle type. Myosin light chains pattern of cruralis bundle fibres was characterized by the lower proportion of the LC3 subunit. These results confirmed the heterogeneity of this frog muscle and the presence of tonic or intermediate fibres with their typical sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteinic composition.