Neuromuscular Specializations within Human Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscles

2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (8) ◽  
pp. 604-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liancai Mu ◽  
Ira Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Nonhuman Primate ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Macaque Monkey ◽  
Fiber Content ◽  
Motor Innervation ◽  
Silver Stain ◽  
Adult Human ◽  
Adult Humans

Objectives: At present it is believed that the pharyngeal constrictor (PC) muscles are innervated by the vagus (X) nerve and are homogeneous in muscle fiber content. This study tested the hypothesis that adult human PCs are divided into 2 distinct and specialized layers: A slow inner layer (SIL), innervated by the glossopharyngeal (IX) nerve, and a fast outer layer (FOL), innervated by nerve X. Methods: Eight normal adult human pharynges (16 sides) obtained from autopsies were studied to determine 1) their gross motor innervation by use of Sihler's stain; 2) their terminal axonal branching by use of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and silver stain; and 3) their myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression in PC muscle fibers by use of immunocytochemical and immunoblotting techniques. In addition, the specialized nature of the 2 PC layers was also studied in developmental (newborn, neonate, and senescent humans), pathological (adult humans with idiopathic Parkinson's disease [IPD]), and comparative (nonhuman primate [adult macaque monkey]) specimens. Results: When nerves IX and X were traced from their cranial roots to their intramuscular termination in Sihler's-stained specimens, it was seen that nerve IX supplied the SIL, whereas branches of nerve X innervated the FOL in the adult human PCs. Use of AChE and silver stain confirmed that nerve IX branches supplying the SIL contained motor axons and innervated motor end plates. In addition to distinct motor innervation, the SIL contained muscle fibers expressing slow-tonic and α-cardiac MHC isoforms, whereas the FOL contained muscle fibers expressing developmental MHC isoforms. In contrast, the FOL became obscured in the elderly and in the adult humans with IPD because of an increased proportion of slow muscle fibers. Notably, distinct muscle fiber layers were not found in the human newborn and nonhuman primate (monkey), but were identified in the 2-year-old human. Conclusions: Human PCs appear to be organized into functional fiber layers, as indicated by distinct motor innervation and specialized muscle fibers. The SIL appears to be a specialized layer unique to normal humans. The presence of the highly specialized slow-tonic and α-cardiac MHC isoforms, together with their absence in human newborns and nonhuman primates, suggests that the specialization of the SIL may be related to speech and respiration. This specialization may reflect the sustained contraction needed in humans to maintain stiffness of the pharyngeal walls during respiration and to shape the walls for speech articulation. In contrast, the FOL is adapted for rapid movement as seen during swallowing. Senescent humans and patients with IPD are known to be susceptible to dysphagia, and this susceptibility may be related to the observed shift in muscle fiber content.

Some Empirical Results Concerning Causal Learning and Representation

2021 ◽  
pp. 169-226
Author(s):  
James Woodward
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Nonhuman Primate ◽  
Causal Learning ◽  
Additional Structure ◽  
Empirical Results ◽  
Adult Human ◽  
Causal Representation ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Causal Cognition ◽  
Over Time

This chapter explores some empirical results bearing on the descriptive and normative adequacy of different accounts of causal learning and representation. It begins by contrasting associative accounts with accounts that attribute additional structure to causal representation, arguing in favor of the latter. Empirical results supporting the claim that adult humans often reason about causal relationships using interventionist counterfactuals are presented. Contrasts between human and nonhuman primate causal cognition are also discussed, as well as some experiments concerning causal cognition in young children. A proposal about what is involved in having adult human causal representations is presented and some issues about how these might develop over time are explored.

What Can We Learn from Sarcopenia with Curarisation in the Context of Cancer Surgery? A Review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (28) ◽  
pp. 3005-3010
Author(s):  
Georges Samouri ◽  
Alexandre Stouffs ◽  
Lionel V. Essen ◽  
Olivier Simonet ◽  
Marc De Kock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Frail Elderly ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Motor Units ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Hepatic Function ◽  
Volume Of Distribution ◽  
Neuromuscular Blocking ◽  
Cancer Surgery ◽  
Old People ◽  
Age Related

Introduction: The monitoring of the curarisation is a unique opportunity to investigate the function of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) during cancer surgery, especially in frailty-induced and age-related sarcopenia. Method: We conducted a comprehensive literature review in PubMed, without any limit of time related to frailty, sarcopenia, age and response to neuromuscular blockers in the context of cancer surgery. Results: Several modifications appear with age: changes in cardiac output, a decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat, the deterioration in renal and hepatic function, the plasma clearance and the volume of distribution in elderly are smaller. These changes can be exacerbated in cancer patients. We also find modifications of the NMJ: dysfunctional mitochondria, modifications in the innervation of muscle fibers and motor units, uncoupling of the excitation-contraction of muscle fibers, inflammation. : Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) compete with acetylcholine and prevent it from fixing itself on its receptor. Many publications reported guidelines for using NMBAs in the elderly, based on studies comparing old people with young people. : No one screened frailty before, and thus, no studies compared frail elderly and non-frail elderly undergoing cancer surgery. Conclusion: Despite many studies about curarisation in the specific populations, and many arguments for a potential interest for investigation, no studies investigated specifically the response to NMBAs in regard of the frailty-induced and age-related sarcopenia.

scholarly journals Frozen/thawed meat quality associated with muscle fiber characteristics of porcine longissimus thoracis et lumborum, psoas major, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huilin Cheng ◽  
Sumin Song ◽  
Gap-Don Kim
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Frozen Storage ◽  
Meat Color ◽  
Pork Meat ◽  
Psoas Major ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractTo evaluate the relationship between muscle fiber characteristics and the quality of frozen/thawed pork meat, four different muscles, M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL), M. psoas major (PM), M. semimembranosus (SM), and M. semitendinosus (ST), were analyzed from twenty carcasses. Meat color values (lightness, redness, yellowness, chroma, and hue) changed due to freezing/thawing in LTL, which showed larger IIAX, IIX, and IIXB fibers than found in SM (P < 0.05). SM and ST showed a significant decrease in purge loss and an increase in shear force caused by freezing/thawing (P < 0.05). Compared with LTL, SM contains more type IIXB muscle fibers and ST had larger muscle fibers I and IIA (P < 0.05). PM was the most stable of all muscles, since only its yellowness and chroma were affected by freezing/thawing (P < 0.05). These results suggest that pork muscle fiber characteristics of individual cuts must be considered to avoid quality deterioration during frozen storage.

scholarly journals FINE STRUCTURE OF RAT INTRAFUSAL MUSCLE FIBERS

1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
William K. Ovalle
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Muscle Spindles ◽  
Intrafusal Muscle ◽  
Dense Granules ◽  
Intrafusal Muscle Fibers ◽  
Sarcotubular System ◽  
Nuclear Chain ◽  
T System ◽  
Nuclear Bag

An ultrastructural comparison of the two types of intrafusal muscle fibers in muscle spindles of the rat was undertaken. Discrete myofibrils with abundant interfibrillar sarcoplasm and organelles characterize the nuclear chain muscle fiber, while a continuous myofibril-like bundle with sparse interfibrillar sarcoplasm distinguishes the nuclear bag muscle fiber. Nuclear chain fibers possess well-defined and typical M bands in the center of each sarcomere, while nuclear bag fibers contain ill-defined M bands composed of two parallel thin densities in the center of the pseudo-H zone of each sarcomere. Mitochondria of nuclear chain fibers are larger and more numerous than they are in nuclear bag fibers. Mitochondria of chain fibers, in addition, often contain conspicuous dense granules, and they are frequently intimately related to elements of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). Striking differences are noted in the organization and degree of development of the sarcotubular system. Nuclear bag fibers contain a poorly developed SR and T system with only occasional junctional couplings (dyads and triads). Nuclear chain fibers, in contrast, possess an unusually well-developed SR and T system and a variety of multiple junctional couplings (dyads, triads, quatrads, pentads, septads). Greatly dilated SR cisternae are common features of nuclear chain fibers, often forming intimate associations with T tubules, mitochondria, and the sarcolemma. Such dilatations of the SR were not encountered in nuclear bag fibers. The functional significance of these structural findings is discussed.

scholarly journals Conjugated and unconjugated bilirubins in bile of humans and rhesus monkeys. Structure of adult human and rhesus-monkey bilirubins compared with dog bilirubins

1977 ◽  
Vol 167 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
S G Blumenthal ◽  
D B Taggart ◽  
R Ikeda ◽  
B H Ruebner ◽  
D E Bergstrom
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Gall Bladder ◽  
Rhesus Monkey ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Glucuronic Acid ◽  
Unknown Compound ◽  
Adult Human ◽  
Adult Humans ◽  
Technical Modifications ◽  
Working Day

1. Bilirubin-IXalpha, -IXalpha diglucuronide, -IXalpha monoglucuronide, -IXalpha monoglucoside -IXalpha monoxyloside, a bilirubin-IXalpha diconjugate containing glucose and another unknown compound, and bilirubin-IXbeta are present in gall-bladder bile of adult human, rhesus monkey and dog. Dog bile normally also contains other bilirubin-IXalpha diconjugates, i.e. compounds containing two conjugating sugars such as glucuronic acid and glucose, glucuronic acid and xylose and glucose xylose. 2. Azopigments alphaF, alphaO, alpha2, alpha3, betax and delta derived from human and rhesus-monkey bilirubins are identical in their chemical composition with those obtained from the dog. 3. Azopigments alphaF and betax found in diazotized biles of adult humans, rhesus monkeys and dogs are products of unconjugated bilirubin-IXbeta. 4. Technical modifications of previously published procedures [Heirwegh, Fevery, Michiels, Van Hees & Compernolle, (1975) Biochem. J. 145, 185-199] were introduced which make it possible to separate the bilirubins, diazotize the separated bilirubins, extract the azopigments and chromatograph them in one working day (6-8h).

A semi-automated measurement of muscle fiber size using the Imaris software

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer E. Gilda ◽  
Joon-Hyuk Ko ◽  
Aviv-Yvonne Elfassy ◽  
Nadav Tropp ◽  
Anna Parnis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Atrophy ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Fluorescent Labeling ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Fiber Size ◽  
Specific Protease

The size and shape of skeletal muscle fibers are affected by various physiological and pathological conditions, such as muscle atrophy, hypertrophy, regeneration, and dystrophies. Hence, muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) is an important determinant of muscle health and plasticity. We adapted the Imaris software to automatically segment muscle fibers based on fluorescent labeling of the plasma membrane, and measure muscle fiber CSA. Analysis of muscle cross sections by the Imaris semi-automated and manual approaches demonstrated a similar decrease in CSA of atrophying muscles from fasted mice compared with fed controls. In addition, we previously demonstrated that downregulation of the Ca2+-specific protease calpain-1 attenuates muscle atrophy. Accordingly, both the Imaris semi-automated and manual approaches showed a similar increase in CSA of fibers expressing calpain-1 shRNA compared with adjacent non-transfected fibers in the same muscle cross section. Although both approaches seem valid for measurements of muscle fiber size, the manual marking method is less preferable because it is highly time-consuming, subjective, and limits the number of cells that can be analyzed. The Imaris semi-automated approach is user-friendly, requires little training or optimization, and can be used to efficiently and accurately mark thousands of fibers in a short period of time. As a novel addition to the commonly used statistics, we also describe statistical tests that quantify the strength of an effect on fiber size, enabling detection of significant differences between skewed distributions that would otherwise not be detected using typical methods.

Motoneuron and muscle fiber succinate dehydrogenase activity in control and overloaded plantaris

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1589-1592 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Chalmers ◽  
R. R. Roy ◽  
V. R. Edgerton
Keyword(s):  
Succinate Dehydrogenase ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Mitochondrial Proteins ◽  
Succinate Dehydrogenase Activity ◽  
Fiber Size ◽  
The Right ◽  
Gastrocnemius Muscles ◽  
Selective Increase

To determine the level of coordination in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity between plantaris motoneurons and muscle fibers, the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were bilaterally excised in four cats to subject the plantaris to functional overload (FO). Five normal cats served as controls. Twelve weeks after surgery the right plantaris in each cat was injected with horseradish peroxidase to identify plantaris motoneurons. SDH activity then was measured in a population of plantaris motoneurons and muscle fibers in each cat. Control motoneurons and muscle fibers had similar mean SDH activities and a similar relationship between cell size and SDH activity. After FO, muscle fiber size doubled and mean muscle fiber SDH activity halved. Motoneuron mean SDH activity and size were unaffected by FO. Total SDH activity was unchanged in both the motoneurons and muscle fibers after FO. These changes suggest a selective increase in contractile proteins with little or no modulation of mitochondrial proteins in the muscle fibers, because total SDH activity was unchanged in muscle fibers after FO. These data demonstrate that although mean SDH activities were similar in control motoneurons and muscle fibers, mean SDH activities in these two cell types can change independently.

Exercise-induced focal skeletal muscle fiber degeneration and capillary morphology

1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 2857-2865 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. M. Peeze Binkhorst ◽  
H. Kuipers ◽  
J. Heymans ◽  
P. M. Frederik ◽  
D. W. Slaaf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Cross Sections ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Basal Membrane ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Muscle Water Content ◽  
Exercise Muscle ◽  
Exercise Induced

The relationship between exercise-induced focal muscle fiber degeneration and changes in capillary morphology was investigated in male Wistar rats. Untrained animals ran on a treadmill for 1 h at submaximal intensity and were killed 0, 6, or 24 h after running. Nonexercised rats served as controls. In situ perfused soleus muscles were prepared for electron microscopy. Micrographed cross sections were quantitatively analyzed for parameters indicative of capillary blood flow or transcapillary exchange. Capillary lumina were ovally rather than circularly shaped, and no indications for obstruction of blood flow at the capillary level were found. Endothelial cells and their organelles had a normal appearance in all groups. However, immediately after exercise, capillaries showed a decreased thickness of their endothelium and basal membrane, probably caused by dehydration. Six hours after exercise, muscle fibers were swollen (28% increase in cross-sectional area), resulting in a slightly increased diffusion distance. This fiber swelling was not associated with an increase in muscle water content, a finding for which no explanation could be found. Twenty-four hours after the animals ran, capillaries located near degenerated muscle fibers had an increased cross-sectional luminal area and an increased luminal circumference. This effect decreased gradually with increasing distance from the degenerated fiber area. The present morphometric results do not support the hypothesis that changes in capillary morphology primarily contribute to exercise-induced focal muscle fiber degeneration.

Structure and innervation of the swim bladder musculature in the weakfish, Cynoscion regalis (Teleostei: Sciaenidae)

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 1955-1967 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Dana Ono ◽  
Stuart G. Poss
Keyword(s):  
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Postsynaptic Membrane ◽  
Motor Endplate ◽  
Central Core ◽  
Swim Bladder ◽  
Motor Endplates ◽  
Cynoscion Regalis

The striated swim bladder muscles of the weakfish Cynoscion regalis are deep red in color but cannot be classified histologically as having typical red fibers. The muscle fibers are homogeneous and average 29.6 ± 5.3 μm in diameter, one-fifth the diameter of the adjacent hypaxialis fibers. Each muscle fiber contains thin, ribbonlike myofibrils which are radially arranged around a central core of mitochondria, glycogen, and sarcoplasmic reticulum. Myofibrils are extremely regular in pattern. Triads occur at the Z line. Numerous mitochondria and muscle nuclei are located at the periphery of each muscle fiber. The muscle fibers are multiply innervated with motor endplates distributed along their entire lengths. Well-developed folding of the postsynaptic membrane, not previously reported in fishes, is present at the motor endplate.

Anisotropic diffusion of oxygen in slices of rat muscle

1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (1) ◽  
pp. R107-R113 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. D. Homer ◽  
J. B. Shelton ◽  
C. H. Dorsey ◽  
T. J. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Fluorescence Quenching ◽  
Muscle Fiber ◽  
Extracellular Space ◽  
Anisotropic Diffusion ◽  
Muscle Fibers ◽  
Rat Muscle ◽  
Hamstring Muscles ◽  
Standard Deviations ◽  
Diffusion Coefficient Of Oxygen

The diffusion coefficient of oxygen (D) and the fluorescence quenching coefficient (K') of pyrenebutyric acid (PBA) were measured in sections of rat hamstring muscles. Values of D and K' at temperatures (Tc) of 20, 30, and 40 degrees C were determined and referred to the values in water. In sections cut parallel to the muscle fibers, D = DH2O (0.380 +/- 0.038), whereas in sections cut across the grain of the fibers, D = DH2O (0.985 +/- 0.039). Oxygen diffuses along the length of a muscle fiber over twice as rapidly as it diffuses in directions perpendicular to the long axis of the fiber. This suggests that fibers, myofibrils, or myofilaments offer substantial barriers to the diffusion of oxygen, whereas extracellular space and spaces around fibers or myofibrils or myofilaments offer no more resistance than water to the diffusion of oxygen. Corresponding estimates for K' were K' = K'H2O[0.14 (1 + 0.25 Tc)] and K' = K'H2O[0.21 (1 + 0.25 Tc)] for slices cut parallel to the long axis of muscle fibers and across the long axis, respectively. Standard deviations of K' were 9%.

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