Effect of zinc deficiency on muscle fibre type frequencies in the post-weanling rat

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
1. Male weanling rats were maintained on diets either deficient or adequate in zinc for a period of 4 weeks. The rats on the deficient diet showed a reduction in food intakesand growth.2. After 4 weeks both soleus muscles and the lateral portion of the diaphragm were studied histochemically to examine the relative frequencies of the fibre types.3. The soleus muscles of the deficient animals showed a significant change in the proportion of slow and fast fibres. The diaphragm muscles of the deficient animals had a significant increase in the proportion of fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic fibres and a significant decrease in fast-twitch glycolytic fibres compared with the controls.4. Stainable lipid increased in the diaphragm muscle of the deficient animals with respect to their pair-fed controls.