Histochemistry of the striated musculature in the opossum and human oesophagus.

The striated muscle component of the opossum oesophagus has been studied for fibre type as revealed by histochemical stains for succinic acid dehydrogenase, adenosine triphosphatase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase and after staining with the periodic acid-Schiff reagent. The reactions were compared to those obtained in a single human oesophagus. In both species, the striated muscle consisted of Type II fibres throughout, but at the pharyngeal end, some Type I fibres passed into the muscularis externa from the lower pharyngeal constrictor and extended for a short distance along the oesophagus. Differences in the reactions to these histochemical stains indicated that the Type II fibres of the opossum oesophageal musculature are subtype A, while those of the human are subtype B.