Characterization of Hypercontracted Fibers in Skeletal Muscle of Domestic Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo)

Several different muscles from a population of thirty Large White male turkeys were s tudied by his tological and hi s toc he mical me thods, and a high incidence of hypercontracted fibers was noted . The fibers were charac terized in cross-sec tion by an apparent swelling, a rounded rather than polygonal shape and a homogenous appearance. They were eosi nophilic, positive to Gomori-trichrome and appear ed to have an e levat ed lipid conte nt. An unusual histochem ical profile was not ed. rt was postulated tha t the hypercontracted fibers were real , not ar tifnc tual, a nd resulted from some c hange occuning in the muscle. Initial paper received July 17, 1988 Manuscript received Sept ember 08, 1988 Direct inquiries to ll.G. Cassens Telephone number: 608 262 1792