Muscle fibre distribution in forelimb, hindlimb and trunk muscles in three bat species: The little Japanese horseshoe, greater horseshoe and Egyptian fruit

This study characterised muscle fibres in trunk, forelimb and hindlimb muscles of three bat species: little Japanese horseshoe ( Rhinolophus cornutus ), greater horseshoe ( Rhinolophus ferrumequinum ) and Egyptian fruit ( Rousettus aegyptiacus ). Twenty‐seven muscles from trunk, forelimb and hindlimb were dissected, weighed and analysed by immunohistochemistry and sodium didecyl sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and determined their cross‐sectional areas (CSA). Results showed that Type IIa and Type IIa/x made the highest proportion of total muscle mass. Moderate proportion was formed by Type IIb. Type I and IIx appeared at very low levels in all bats. Type IIb was the only fibre type detected in patagial muscles in wing membrane of greater horseshoe while other fibre types were not observed. Type I muscle fibres were very few and appeared infrequently in fifteen muscles of Egyptian fruit and in only one muscle in each, greater horseshoe and little Japanese horseshoe. Type IIx was also detected in three muscles in greater horseshoe and only one muscle in Egyptian fruit but none in little Japanese horseshoe. The highest average CSA μm 2 was detected in Type IIb and values were 734.2μm 2 for LHB; 1537.9μm 2 for GHB and 1,720.9μm 2 for EFB. Lowest and undetermined values were observed for Type I and IIx. These data demonstrate that Type IIa, IIa/x and IIb form significant proportion of adult bat muscle mass and Type IIb is the largest fibre type. The distribution pattern is suggestive of specialised functions of the fibres in relation to orientation and speed of bats during flight.