ATPase staining is particularly effective in distinguishing between three primary types of muscle fibers:
1. Type I Fibers: Also known as slow-twitch fibers, these have high oxidative capacity and are rich in mitochondria. They show low ATPase activity at acidic pH but high activity at alkaline pH. 2. Type IIa Fibers: These are fast-twitch oxidative fibers with both high oxidative and glycolytic capacity. They exhibit intermediate ATPase activity at various pH levels. 3. Type IIb Fibers: These are fast-twitch glycolytic fibers with low oxidative capacity but high glycolytic capacity. They show high ATPase activity at acidic pH.
