Conversion of Red Muscle to Pale Muscle.

Abstract

The soleus muscle in rabbits was transplanted so as to insert in the position previously used by the pale tibialis posterior. After a period of 6 mo., records were made of the reflexly induced contractions of the normal red soleus and the transplanted soleus. When compared to reflexly induced contractions of the pale tibialis muscle, the transplanted muscle appeared to have been converted to a pale muscle because of its short latent period, short contraction period, and absence of after-discharge. The myo-hemoglobin and Fe contents of the transplanted muscle were much closer to those of the tibialis muscle than to the normal soleus.