Relationship between morphometric characteristics of fibre types and adipocytes in Cinta Senese pig

Abstract The research was carried out on 16 pigs of autochthonous (located breed of pig) genetic type Cinta Senese. The morphometric characteristics of the fibre types and their percentage were determined on Longissimus Dorsi (LD) and Psoas major (PM) muscles. The area, diameter, volume and thickness of adipocytes from internal and external layers of adipose tissue from pig backfat, shoulder, dorsal and loin regions were determined. Maximum shortening velocity and isometric tension were measured in single muscle fibres. The type slow twitch oxidative fibres (SO) was larger than fast twitch glycolytic fibres (FG) and fast twitch oxidative glycolytic fibres (FOG) (P<0.001), LD muscle was characterised by fibres larger than PM and males had fibres larger than females. As regards adipocytes the dorsal region had bigger adipocytes (P<0.05–0.001) and fat thickness, adipocyte diameter and volume were higher in the middle layer. Isometric tension values were higher in the fibres type FOG, the values of maximum sh...