ESOPHAGEAL STRIATED-MUSCLE ARRANGEMENT AND HISTOCHEMICAL FIBER TYPES IN GUINEA-PIG, MARMOSET, MACAQUE AND MAN

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 134  (JUN) , 685-695
Abstract
The muscularis externa of the esophagus was examined histologically and histochemically in the guinea-pig, marmoset, macaque and man. The transition from striated muscle to smooth occurred more gradually and at a more proximal level in the primate than in the guinea-pig. In addition, minor differences in fiber lay-out were observed between the 4 species examined. Guinea-pig esophageal striated muscle was all of one type, fast twitch oxidative and glycolytic. The marmoset esophageal muscle, also unitypical, was slow twitch and oxidative. Both the macaque and man each revealed 2 types: slow twitch oxidative glycolytic and fast twitch oxidative glycolytic and slow twitch oxidative and fast twitch putatively glycolytic, respectively. These differences apparently represent species variation.