The occurrence and histochemical characterization of giant fibers in the muscle of growing and adult animals

Summary Giant fibers in porcine muscle have a variable reaction for DPNH-TR, a very negative reaction for amylophosphorylase and a very positive reaction for ATPase. This unusual histochemical reaction pattern, together with the finding that giant fibers occur in the muscle of adult animals, argues against their being the classical Wohlfart B fiber. The association of giant fibers with animal stress-susceptibility and muscle pathology is discussed.Published with the approval of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, Department Meat and Animal Science Manscpt. No. 497. This investigation was supported in part by the Graduate School Research Committee, Univ. of Wisconsin, in part by Public Health Service Grant No. UI00266-10 from the National Center for Urban and Industrial Health, in part by Armour Food Research Laboratories and in part by the American Meat Institute Foundation.