Meta-analysis data of skeletal muscle slow fiber content across mammalian species

Description

Skeletal muscle slow fiber (MyHC-I) content varies across muscles and taxa and is one of the traits that distinguishes humans from other apes, yet no study to date has compiled this interspecific data into a single, usable format. Thus, the goal of this study was to collate mammalian skeletal muscle slow fiber composition data from published, peer-reviewed articles into a single, open-access Excel sheet for interspecific comparison and analysis (as in Queeno et al., 2023). A systematic literature search and review was conducted between June 1 2021 and November 30 2022 following a structure similar to PRISMA. Terms relating to mammalian skeletal muscle fiber composition were queried using academic search systems (e.g. Google Scholar) and library databases for relevant primary articles. Reference lists in relevant articles were thoroughly investigated for eligible studies. In total, 269 primary articles were deemed eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis (i.e. these studies provided skeletal muscle fiber composition data from mammalian species that were not subjected to experimental manipulations). Relevant metadata (e.g. taxonomic information, sex, age, fiber-typing methodology, average body mass, and average percent slow fiber content) was then extracted from the text, figures, tables, and supplementary materials of eligible studies when available. Muscle fiber composition data was collected from more than 200 skeletal muscles across 174 mammalian species, which will be of immense value to those interested in muscle physiology, interspecific muscle comparisons, and connections between muscle physiology, taxonomy, body mass, ecomorphology and locomotor strategy (among others). These data highlight certain species, taxonomic orders, and muscles for which fiber composition data is lacking and needs investigation. Hopefully, these data will spark interest in gathering muscle fiber composition data from underrepresented species and muscles, and generate interest in pursuing questions relating to muscle physiology and evolution, as well as analyses based on interspecific datasets.

Steps to reproduce

Published, peer-reviewed data were compiled for meta-analysis between June 1 2021 and November 30 2022 following a structure similar to PRISMA. Terms relating to mammalian skeletal muscle fiber composition (fiber type slow fast myofiber OR myosin OR "heavy chain" "skeletal muscle" -Xenopus -avian -denervated -transition -develop -developing -stimulated -training -switch -aging -athlete -cardiomyopathy -spaceflight -Duchenne -immobilization -suspension) were queried using academic search systems (e.g. Google Scholar) and library databases for relevant primary articles. Reference lists in relevant articles were thoroughly investigated for eligible studies. No restrictions were set on the date of publication.  Articles identified via academic search systems were screened for relevancy by reviewing published abstracts and data tables. Relevant articles were then assessed for eligibility. Eligible studies were published in the English language and provided muscle fiber composition data from at least one skeletal muscle from a species belonging to class Mammalia. Studies were not considered eligible for the following reasons: (i) muscle fiber composition data were not provided, (ii) muscle fiber composition data provided were ambiguous, (iii) muscle fiber composition data were provided for an unidentified muscle, (iv) muscle fiber composition data were provided for cardiac fibers, (v) muscle fiber composition data were provided for single muscle fibers, (vi) muscle fiber composition data were provided for a mammal under experimental manipulation (e.g. treadmill running), (vii) the study duplicated another dataset, (viii) the source was secondary, and (ix) the source was an abstract. The following data were recorded from the text, tables, figures, and supplementary materials of eligible studies when available: sampled species’ common name, scientific name, sex, age, breed/strain, method for classification of muscle fiber composition, slow muscle fiber terminology used, number of individuals sampled, average body mass (kg), and average percent slow fiber content (% fibers) of each skeletal muscle under investigation. Binomial and common names were updated when necessary to reflect current understanding of phylogenetic relationships. If species body mass was not reported the mean was taken from published studies. When muscle fiber content was recorded as the percentage of fast muscle fibers within a skeletal muscle, the proportion of slow muscle fibers was derived as 100 minus the total proportion of fast muscle fibers. If muscle fiber content was reported from multiple sampling sites across a single muscle, the average across sampling sites was recorded. Skeletal muscle terms were then assessed for redundancy and updated when necessary to reflect modern anatomical terminology. Species were then categorized into one of four locomotor types based on how the species navigates through its habitat matrix: arboreal, marine, terrestrial, and volant.

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