GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF MUSCLE-FIBERS IN THE RAINBOW-TROUT (SALMO-GAIRDNERI)

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 137  (SEP) , 323-333
Abstract
The growth of red and white muscle was investigated in the rainbow trout, using fish from 2.2 cm-71 cm in length. In the white muscle, fiber hyperplasia, initially, accounted for all muscle growth but its relative contribution decreased as the contribution from fiber hypertrophy increased. At and above .apprx. 65 cm there was no hyperplasia, and this corresponded approximately to the stage when there were no more fibers in the smallest size class (< 20 .mu.m). The results for the red muscle were more variable and hence more difficult to assess. Although red fiber hyperpalsia may continue throughout growth, at 34 cm there are no fibers in the smallest size class, which possibly indicates no new fiber formation beyond this stage.