A preliminary study on the changes in some potential markers of muscle-cell degradation in sub-maximally exercised horses supplemented with a protein and amino acid mixture.
Abstract: In this preliminary study, time-dependent changes in plasma CK and AST activity, tyrosine (Tyr), 3-methyl-histidine (3mHis), glucose and lactate concentrations were analysed in nine horses under two different conditions. Furthermore, intramuscular concentrations of Tyr, 3mHis and activities of cathepsin B, acid phosphatase (ACP), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and mRNA expression of ubiquitin were determined at the same time. After studying the effects of exercise alone, the effects of exercise and feeding of an experimental protein/amino acid (AA) supplement were analysed. Horses were submitted to a total of four standardised exercise tests (SETs) of high intensity. Potential markers of muscle break down were determined prior to, immediately after, 4 and 18 h after exercise. The experiment was subdivided into two consecutive periods of 3 weeks. In each period, two SETs were performed. In the second period, horses were fed with the protein/AA supplement within 1 h after exercise. Significant changes in plasma, intramuscular Tyr levels and mRNA expression of ubiquitin were caused both by time in relation to exercise and by treatment with the protein/AA supplement. The experimental supplement significantly decreased the 4-h post-exercise expression of ubiquitin mRNA in muscle. Only a borderline increase of markers of lysosomal involvement was seen and CK and AST activity generally showed their normal post-exercise patterns. A clear post-exercise reduction of this CK activity, however, was not observed after supplementation with the protein/AA mixture. The current findings indicate that horses might benefit from protein and AA supplementation directly after training by decreasing post-exercise proteolysis. The results support that further studies should be performed to characterize changes in equine protein metabolism caused by exercise including underlying molecular mechanisms.
© 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2010-12-01 PubMed ID: 21121963DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01097.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article investigates how supplementing a protein and amino acid mixture affects potential markers of muscle-cell degradation in sub-maximally exercised horses. The results suggest that protein and amino acid supplementation after training may reduce post-exercise proteolysis in horses.
Research Methodology
The research involved studying the time-dependent changes in several variables including plasma CK and AST activity, tyrosine (Tyr), 3-methyl-histidine (3mHis), glucose, and lactate concentrations in nine horses under two different conditions:
- The first condition involved studying the effects of high-intensity exercise alone.
- The second condition involved studying the effects of high-intensity exercise combined with feeding of an experimental protein/amino acid (AA) supplement.
In the second condition, the horses received the protein/AA supplement within 1 hour after exercise. Additionally, intramuscular concentrations of Tyr, 3mHis, activities of cathepsin B, acid phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and mRNA expression of ubiquitin were determined.
Observations and Findings
The following observations were made from the study:
- Timing in relation to exercise and treatment with the protein/AA supplement significantly affected plasma and intramuscular Tyr levels, and mRNA expression of ubiquitin.
- The experimental protein/AA supplement significantly decreased the 4-hour post-exercise expression of ubiquitin mRNA in muscle, a potential marker of muscle breakdown.
- No significant alteration was noticed in CK and AST activity post-exercise, with activity levels generally following their normal post-exercise patterns.
- There was no evident reduction in CK activity after supplementation with the protein/AA mixture.
Conclusion and Future Recommendations
The research concludes that protein and amino acid supplementation after training could possibly help decrease post-exercise proteolysis in horses, therefore indicating potential benefits. However, the authors argue that further studies should be conducted to better understand the changes in equine protein metabolism induced by exercise and the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Cite This Article
APA
van den Hoven R, Bauer A, Hackl S, Zickl M, Spona J, Zentek J.
(2010).
A preliminary study on the changes in some potential markers of muscle-cell degradation in sub-maximally exercised horses supplemented with a protein and amino acid mixture.
J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl), 95(5), 664-675.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01097.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic of Internal Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology of Equids, Clinical Department of Companion Animals and Horses, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. rene.vandenhoven@vetmeduni.ac.at
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acids / pharmacology
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Proteins / pharmacology
- Dietary Supplements
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Muscle Cells / physiology
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Park JW, Kim KH, Kim S, So JR, Cho BW, Song KD. Comparative metabolomic analysis in horses and functional analysis of branched chain (alpha) keto acid dehydrogenase complex in equine myoblasts under exercise stress. J Anim Sci Technol 2022 Jul;64(4):800-811.
- Graham-Thiers PM, Bowen LK. The effect of time of feeding on plasma amino acids during exercise and recovery in horses. Transl Anim Sci 2021 Apr;5(2):txab045.
- van Dijk M, Dijk FJ, Hartog A, van Norren K, Verlaan S, van Helvoort A, Jaspers RT, Luiking Y. Reduced dietary intake of micronutrients with antioxidant properties negatively impacts muscle health in aged mice. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2018 Feb;9(1):146-159.
- Luck MM, Le Moyec L, Barrey E, Triba MN, Bouchemal N, Savarin P, Robert C. Energetics of endurance exercise in young horses determined by nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics. Front Physiol 2015;6:198.
- Le Moyec L, Robert C, Triba MN, Billat VL, Mata X, Schibler L, Barrey E. Protein catabolism and high lipid metabolism associated with long-distance exercise are revealed by plasma NMR metabolomics in endurance horses. PLoS One 2014;9(3):e90730.
- Reemtsma FP, Giers J, Horstmann S, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H. Concentration Changes in Plasma Amino Acids and Their Metabolites in Eventing Horses During Cross-Country Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 22;15(13).
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