Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
From a terrestrial ancestry, the fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ) is one of the largest animals on Earth with a sprinter anti-predator strategy, and a characteristic feeding mode, lunge feeding, which involves bouts of high-intensity muscle activity demanding high metabolic output. We investigate...
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fthighwire:oai:open-archive.highwire.org:jexbio:221/12/jeb177758 2023-05-15T15:36:35+02:00 Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Rivero, José-Luis L. 2018-06-22 00:45:40.0 text/html http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/221/12/jeb177758 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177758 en eng The Company of Biologists Ltd http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/221/12/jeb177758 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177758 Copyright (C) 2018, Company of Biologists RESEARCH ARTICLE TEXT 2018 fthighwire https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177758 2018-12-30T19:27:22Z From a terrestrial ancestry, the fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ) is one of the largest animals on Earth with a sprinter anti-predator strategy, and a characteristic feeding mode, lunge feeding, which involves bouts of high-intensity muscle activity demanding high metabolic output. We investigated the locomotor muscle morphology and metabolism of this cetacean to determine whether its muscle profile (1) explains this unique swimming performance and feeding behaviour, (2) is or is not homogeneous within the muscle, and (3) predicts allometric variations inherent to an extreme body size. A predominantly fast-glycolytic phenotype characterized the fin whale locomotor muscle, composed of abundant fast-twitch (type IIA) fibres with high glycolytic potential, low oxidative capacity, relatively small size, and reduced number of capillaries. Compared with superficial areas, deep regions of this muscle exhibited a slower and more oxidative profile, suggesting a division of labour between muscle strata. As expected, the fin whale locomotor muscle only expressed the two slowest myosin heavy chain isoforms (I and IIA). However, it displayed anaerobic (glycolytic) and aerobic (lipid-based metabolism) capabilities higher than would be predicted from the allometric perspective of its extreme body size. Relationships between muscle metabolism and body mass were fibre-type specific. The ‘sprinter’ profile of the fin whale swimming muscle, particularly of its superficial compartment, supports physiological demands during both high-speed swimming and the lunge, when energy expenditure reaches maximal or supramaximal levels. Comparatively, the slower and more oxidative profile of the deep compartment of this muscle seems to be well designed for sustained, low-intensity muscle activity during routine swimming. Text Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale HighWire Press (Stanford University) Rorqual ENVELOPE(-62.311,-62.311,-65.648,-65.648) Journal of Experimental Biology |
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English |
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RESEARCH ARTICLE |
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RESEARCH ARTICLE Rivero, José-Luis L. Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
topic_facet |
RESEARCH ARTICLE |
description |
From a terrestrial ancestry, the fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus ) is one of the largest animals on Earth with a sprinter anti-predator strategy, and a characteristic feeding mode, lunge feeding, which involves bouts of high-intensity muscle activity demanding high metabolic output. We investigated the locomotor muscle morphology and metabolism of this cetacean to determine whether its muscle profile (1) explains this unique swimming performance and feeding behaviour, (2) is or is not homogeneous within the muscle, and (3) predicts allometric variations inherent to an extreme body size. A predominantly fast-glycolytic phenotype characterized the fin whale locomotor muscle, composed of abundant fast-twitch (type IIA) fibres with high glycolytic potential, low oxidative capacity, relatively small size, and reduced number of capillaries. Compared with superficial areas, deep regions of this muscle exhibited a slower and more oxidative profile, suggesting a division of labour between muscle strata. As expected, the fin whale locomotor muscle only expressed the two slowest myosin heavy chain isoforms (I and IIA). However, it displayed anaerobic (glycolytic) and aerobic (lipid-based metabolism) capabilities higher than would be predicted from the allometric perspective of its extreme body size. Relationships between muscle metabolism and body mass were fibre-type specific. The ‘sprinter’ profile of the fin whale swimming muscle, particularly of its superficial compartment, supports physiological demands during both high-speed swimming and the lunge, when energy expenditure reaches maximal or supramaximal levels. Comparatively, the slower and more oxidative profile of the deep compartment of this muscle seems to be well designed for sustained, low-intensity muscle activity during routine swimming. |
format |
Text |
author |
Rivero, José-Luis L. |
author_facet |
Rivero, José-Luis L. |
author_sort |
Rivero, José-Luis L. |
title |
Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_short |
Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_full |
Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_fullStr |
Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) |
title_sort |
locomotor muscle fibre heterogeneity and metabolism in the fastest large-bodied rorqual: the fin whale (balaenoptera physalus) |
publisher |
The Company of Biologists Ltd |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/221/12/jeb177758 https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177758 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-62.311,-62.311,-65.648,-65.648) |
geographic |
Rorqual |
geographic_facet |
Rorqual |
genre |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale |
genre_facet |
Balaenoptera physalus Fin whale |
op_relation |
http://jeb.biologists.org/cgi/content/short/221/12/jeb177758 http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177758 |
op_rights |
Copyright (C) 2018, Company of Biologists |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.177758 |
container_title |
Journal of Experimental Biology |
_version_ |
1766366952797765632 |