Summary
Triad density relative to sarcomeres, size of T-system tubules, sarcomere length, muscle fiber diameter in native and fixed states, and size of myofibrils were measured in four striated muscle fiber types in Atlantic hagfishes (Myxine glutinosa, L.) of different sizes.
Triads occur at A/I — junctions in all fiber types. The density of triads relative to sarcomeres is higher in “white” than in “red” muscle fibers. The T-tubules show no sign of branching.
The area of the T-system tubules is 3–4 times the surface area in 80 μm “white” muscle fibers and 1–2 times that in 60 μm “red” fibers.
The size of myofibrils is similar in “white”, “intermediate”, and “red” fibers of m. parietalis, and constant through a large span of animal size. In “white” fibers, increase in diameter up to 90 μm is accompanied by an increase in the number of myofibrils, not by an increase in the individual size of the myofibrils. Above 90 μm, “white” fibers grow by increasing the amount of intermyofibrillar space. This is reflected by an extensive shrinkage of the thicker “white” fibers during the preparative procedure for electron microscopy, a shrinkage that is limited only by complete packing of the myofibrils. “Red” fibers shrink much less.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adrian, R. H., Chandler, W. K., Hodgkin, A. L.: The kinetics of mechanical activation in frog muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 204, 207–230 (1969)
Adrian, R. H., Peachey, L. D.: Reconstruction of the action potential of frog sartorius muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 235, 103–131 (1973)
Alnæs, E., Jansen, J. K. S., Rudjord, T.: Spontaneous junctional activity of fast and slow parietal muscle fibres of the hagfish. Acta physiol. scand. 60, 240–255 (1964)
Andersen, P., Jansen, J. K. S., Løyning, Y.: Slow and fast muscle fibres in the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa). Acta physiol. scand. 57, 167–179 (1963)
Andersson-Cedergren, E.: Ultrastructure of motor end plate and sarcoplasmic components of mouse skeletal muscle fiber. J. Ultrastruct. Res., Suppl. 1, 1–191 (1959)
Cole, K. S.: Membranes, ions and impulses. Los Angeles: University of California Press 1968
Eisenberg, B. R., Eisenberg, R. S.: Selective disruption of the sarcotubular system in frog sartorius muscle. A quantitative study with exogenous peroxidase as a marker. J. Cell Biol. 39, 451–467 (1968)
Falk, G., Fatt, P.: Linear electrical properties of striated muscle fibres observed with intracellular electrodes. Proc. roy. Soc. B 160, 69–123 (1964)
Fawcett, D. W., Revel, J. P.: The sarcoplasmic reticulum of a fast-acting fish muscle. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 10, 89–109 (1961)
Franzini-Armstrong, C.: Membranous systems in muscle fibers. In: G. H. Bourne (ed.), The structure and function of muscle, vol. II, 2nd ed., p. 531–619. New York: Academic Press 1973
Fuchs, F.: Striated muscle. Ann. Rev. Physiol. 46, 461–502 (1974)
Heintz, A.: Phylogenetic aspects of Myxinoids. In: A. Brodal, R. Fänge (eds.), The biology of Myxine, p. 9–21. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget 1963
Hidaka, T., Toida, N.: Biophysical and mechanical properties of red and white muscle fibres in fish. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 201, 49–59 (1969)
Hodgkin, A. L., Huxley, A. F., Katz, B.: Measurement of current-voltage relations in the membrane of the giant axon of Loligo. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 116, 424–448 (1952)
Hodgkin, A. L., Nakajima, S.: The effect of diameter on the electrical constants of frog skeletal muscle fibres. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 221, 105–120 (1972)
Hodgkin, A. L., Nakajima, S.: Analysis of the membrane capacity in frog muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 221, 121–136 (1972)
Katz, B.: The electrical properties of the muscle fibre cell membrane. Proc. roy. Soc. B 135, 506–534 (1948)
Kilarski, W.: The fine structure of striated muscle in Teleosts. Z. Zellforsch. 79 562–580 (1967)
Kilarski, W., Bigaj, J.: Organization and fine structure of extraocular muscles in Carassius and Rana. Z. Zellforsch. 94, 194–204 (1969)
Korneliussen, H.: Identification of muscle fiber types in “semithin” sections stained with p-phenylene-diamine. Histochemie 32, 95–98 (1972)
Korneliussen, H., Nicolaysen, K.: Ultrastructure of four types of striated muscle fibers in the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa, L.). Z. Zellforsch. 143, 273–290 (1973)
Luff, A. R., Atwood, H. L.: Changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubular system of fast and slow skeletal muscles of mouse during postnatal development. J. Cell Biol. 51, 369–383 (1971)
Luff, A. R., Atwood, H. L.: Membrane properties and contraction of single muscle fibers in the mouse. Amer. J. Physiol. 222, 1435–1440 (1972)
Nag, A. C.: Ultrastructure and adenosine triphosphatase activity of red and white muscle fibers of the caudal region of a fish, Salmo gairdneri. J. Cell Biol. 55, 42–57 (1972)
Nicolaysen, K.: Hurtige og langsomme muskelfibre hos slimålen. En histologisk og fysiologisk studie av en “hvit” muskel, m. longitudinalis linguae, og av en “rød” muskel, m. craniovelaris posterior. Thesis, University of Oslo, 1964
Nicolaysen, K.: On the functional properties of the fast and slow cranial muscles of the Atlantic hagfish. Acta physiol. scand. 68, (Suppl. 277), 142 (1966)
Nicolaysen, K.: The spread of the action potential through the T-system in hagfish twitch muscle fibres. In prep. (1974a)
Nicolaysen, K.: Spread of the junction potential in the T-system in hagfish slow muscle fibres. In prep. (1974b)
Page, S. G.: A comparison of the fine structures of frog slow and twitch muscle fibres. J. Cell Biol. 26, 477–497 (1965)
Peachey, L. D.: The sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubules of the frog's sartorius. J. Cell Biol. 25, 209–231 (1965)
Peachey, L. D., Schild, R. F.: The distribution of the T-system along the sarcomeres of frog and toad sartorius muscle. J. Physiol. (Lond.) 194, 249–258 (1968)
Rapaport, S. I., Peachey, L. D., Goldstein, D. A.: Swelling of transverse tubular system in frog sartorius. J. gen. Physiol. 54, 166–177 (1969)
Ridgeway, E. B., Ashley, C. C.: Calcium transience in single muscle fibers. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 29, 229–234 (1967)
Rubio, R., Sperelakis, N.: Penetration of horseradish peroxidase into the terminal cisternae of frog skeletal muscle fibres and blockade of caffeine contracture by Ca++ depletion. Z. Zellforsch. 124, 57–71 (1972)
Smith, D. S.: The organization and function of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and T-system of muscle cells. Progr. Biophys. molec. Biol. 16, 107–142 (1966)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
We thank Dr. J. K. S. Jansen, Institute of Physiology, University of Oslo, for valuable discussions. We are also indebted to Jorunn Line Vaaland for sectioning, to Dr. F. Walvig, Biological Station, University of Oslo, Drøbak, for supply of hagfishes, and to Dr. L. Wallöe, Institute of Physics, University of Oslo, for aid with the statistics.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Korneliussen, H., Nicolaysen, K. Distribution and dimension of the T-system in different muscle fiber types in the Atlantic hagfish (Myxine glutinosa, L.). Cell Tissue Res. 157, 1–16 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223227
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00223227