Comparative Morphological and Functional Characteristics of the Muscle Tissue of Gobies of Cattle of Three Breeds (Hereford, Kazakh White-Headed and Kalmyk)

Abstract

Using a complex of morphological methods, the muscle tissue of 18-month-old gobies of three cattle breeds (Hereford, Kazakh white-headed and Kalmyk) was studied. The results of the study showed that in the biceps femoris muscle and the longest muscle of the back of bulls of Hereford breed, the average diameter of muscle fibers was higher than in animals of the Kazakh white-headed and Kalmyk breeds. The thickness of the endomysium in the muscles of the animals studied was in the range of 6–13 μm and had no pronounced breed differences. Among the cellular elements of endomysium, endotheliocytes prevailed. Their share was about 80%. Type 1 collagen was higher in Hereford animals. In the muscles of animals of the Kazakh white-headed and Kalmyk breeds, the content of adipose tissue was higher than in animals of the Hereford breed. The results obtained reflect typical patterns of the structural and functional characteristics of cattle muscle tissue, and also show the range of in-breed variability of the muscle tissue of these animals.