Antenatal anticipation of postnatal muscle function.

AUTOR(ES)
RESUMO

The semitendinosus muscle of the sheep was used as an experimental model to test antenatal anticipation of muscle postnatal function using the alkali-stabile myosin ATPase technique. Areas of variable fibre type population density were seen from 80 days of gestation. The highest population density of ATPase-low fibres was observed in the craniomedial aspect of the muscle (the ATPase-low dense area). The lowest ATPase-low fibre population density area (the ATPase-low sparse area) was seen in the caudolateral aspect of the muscle. Simultaneous electromyographic studies indicated that the ATPase-low dense area is preferentially used for posture and during quiet co-ordinated activity, while the ATPase-low sparse area is recruited only intermittently when the hip and stifle are less co-ordinated in movement. The ATPase-low fibre percentage within the ATPase-low dense area of the muscle increased from 10 to 30% from 80 days of gestation to adulthood. The part of this change occurring antenatally is expected to be the result of genetic anticipation.

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