SKELETAL MUSCLE HISTOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY OF AN

ELITE SPRINTER, THE AFRICAN CHEETAH

T. M. WILLIAMS, G. P. DODSON, O. MATHIEU-COSTELLO, D. MORSBACH, M. B. WORLEY, AND J. A. PHILIPS.

VALERIE SAMUELS

ELIZABETH TAMEZ

ROSIE LEON

INTRODUCTION

• PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY – TO DEVELOP A SKELETAL MUSCLE PROFILE FOR CHEETAHS

• CHEETAHS CAN RUN IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH, 3X AS FAST AS OLYMPIC HUMAN SPRINTERS

BACKGROUND INFO

• MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY

• ANAEROBIC METABOLIC PATHWAY/TCA

• SHORT CHEETAH VIDEO?

HYPOTHESIS

FIBER TYPE COMPOSITION, MITOCHONDRIAL CONTENT, AND GLYCOLYTIC ENZYME CAPACITIES IN THE LOCOMOTOR MUSCLES OF A CHEETAH ARE BUILT FOR ANAEROBIC BASED PERFORMANCE WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER MAMMALIAN SPRINTERS

MATERIALS & METHODS

• MUSCLES TEST FOR: (ARROWS POINTING TO MUSCLE)

• FIBER COMPOSITION,

• ENZYME ACTIVITY,

• MB CONC.,

• VOLUME DENSITY OF MITOCHONDRIA, MYOFIBRILS, AND LIPID DROPLETS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION SUMMARY

• SKELETAL MUSCLE WORK IN SUPPORT OF ANAEROBIC METABOLISM

• INCREASE OF LDH AND PK ENZYMES IN GLYCOLYTIC PATHWAYS

• MYOGLOBIN OXYGEN STORAGE WAS 2X HIGHER

• FAST-TWITCH FIBERS IN VASTUS LATERALIS

QUESTIONS?

CONCLUSION