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First published online March 27, 2009
Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 1131-1139 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
doi: 10.1242/jeb.028324

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Muscle plasticity of Inuit sled dogs in Greenland

Nadine Gerth^1,*, Steffen Sum², Sue Jackson³ and J. Matthias Starck¹

¹ Department of Biology II, University of Munich (LMU), 82152 Planegg-Martiensried, Germany
² College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
³ Botany and Zoology Department, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa

View larger version (100K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 1 Ultrasonographs of the supraspinatus muscle of Inuit dogs from Qeqertarsuaq in (A) winter and (B) in summer condition. The ultrasound probe was placed lateral and perpendicular to the scapula (sc), so that the spina scapulae (sp) is seen on the right side of the image. Top of the image shows layers of the skin, superficial fascia and trapezius muscle (tp). The supraspinatus muscle (ss) is characterized by a fascia which can be recognized on all ultrasonographs. Note the convex shape of the m. supraspinatus above the scapula (sc) in winter compared with the concave shape in summer. These are representative sonographs of the range from the different dogs. Scale bars, 1 cm.

View larger version (38K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Ultrasonographs of measurement sites and muscle thickness of (A) m. supraspinatus above the scapula (sc), (B) muscles (m. triceps brachii, m. brachialis) lateral of the humerus (hu), and (C) muscles (m. biceps femoris, m. vastus lateralis) lateral of the femur (fe); the measured distance from the bone (A: scapula; B: humerus; C: femur) is indicated by a red line. Layers of skin can be seen at the top of the images. Scale bars, 1 cm.

View larger version (134K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Semithin cross-sections of m. adductor magnus (A,B) in summer, and (C,D) in winter condition. A and C are samples of dogs from Qeqertarsuaq, B and D are samples from Qaanaaq. Myofibers (mf) in winter condition contain more lipid droplets (dark dots in cross-sections A–C, lights dots in D) than myofibers of summer condition. Capillaries (black arrows) are visible between the myofibers. Note the expanded endomysium (en) in summer in sample (A) of a dog from Qeqertarsuaq. Dark blue edges of fibers from the Qaanaaq dog in winter condition(D) are aggregations of mitochondria. Micrographs are average representations of muscle histology of the different dogs. Scale bars, 50 µm.

View larger version (191K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Fig. 4. Transmission electron micrographs of m. adductor magnus of dogs (A,B) in summer condition and (C,D) in winter condition. A and C are samples of dogs from Qeqertarsuaq, B and D are samples from Qaanaaq. Mitochondria (mt) are located next to lipid droplets (ld) between the myofibrils (mf). Scale bars, 1 µm. Transmission electron micrographs are average representations of muscle ultrastructure taken from different dogs.

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