Morphological and biochemical alterations of skeletal muscles from the genetically obese (ob/ob) mouse

Abstract

Background: Knowledge of the morphological and biochemical alterations occurring in skeletal muscles of obese animals is relatively limited, particularly with respect to non-limb muscles and relationship to fibre type. Objective: Sternomastoid (SM; fast-twitch), extensor digitorum longus (EDL; fast-twitch), and soleus (SOL; mixed) muscles of ob/ob mouse (18-22 weeks) were examined with respect to size (mass, muscle mass-to-body mass ratio, cross-sectional area (CSA)), fibre CSA, protein content, myosin heavy chain (MHC) content, MHC isoform (MHCi) composition, MHCi-based fibre type composition, and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme (LDHiso) composition. Results: Compared with (control) muscles..