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Changes in muscle composition during the development of diving ability in the Australian fur seal

journal contribution
posted on 2012-01-01, 00:00 authored by D La Rosa, David Cannata, John ArnouldJohn Arnould, Lynda O'Sullivan, Rod SnowRod Snow, Jan WestJan West
During development the Australian fur seal transitions from a terrestrial, maternally dependent pup to an adult marine predator. Adult seals have adaptations that allow them to voluntarily dive at depth for long periods, including increased bradycardic control, increased myoglobin levels and haematocrit. To establish whether the profile of skeletal muscle also changes in line with the development of diving ability, biopsy samples were collected from the trapezius muscle of pups, juveniles and adults. The proportions of different fibre types and their oxidative capacity were determined. Only oxidative fibre types (Type I and IIa) were identified, with a significant change in proportions from pup to adult. There was no change in oxidative capacity of Type I and IIa fibres between pups and juveniles but there was a two-fold increase between juveniles and adults. Myoglobin expression increased between pups and juveniles, suggesting improved oxygen delivery, but with no increase in oxidative capacity, oxygen utilisation within the muscle may still be limited. Adult muscle had the highest oxidative capacity, suggesting that fibres are able to effectively utilise available oxygen during prolonged dives. Elevated levels of total creatine in the muscles of juveniles may act as an energy buffer when fibres are transitioning from a fast to slow fibre type.

History

Journal

Australian journal of zoology

Volume

60

Issue

2

Pagination

81 - 90

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Location

Collingwood, Vic.

ISSN

0004-959X

eISSN

1446-5698

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2012, CSIRO