Abstract
The gross morphology and histochemistry of basal swimming muscles of the fifth pereiopod of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, were investigated. Each of the major muscles has two to three discrete branches and contains fibers ranging in colour from white to deep pink. The coloration is correlated with mitochondrial density. Deep pink fibers show intense NADH diaphorase staining, indicative of high oxidative capacity, while white fibers show very little staining, indicative of low oxidative capacity. Myrofibrillar ATPase activities are inversely correlated with oxidative capacities. The deep pink region of the levator muscle (muscle F) shows higher phosphorylase (glycolytic) activity, higher polysaccharide content and shorter sarcomere length than the white region. Such differentiation within a single muscle suggests considerable functional versatility.
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