Age-dependent regulation of sodium-potassium adenosinetriphosphatase and sodium-hydrogen exchanger mRNAs in equine nonglandular mucosa.

This research article investigates how the exposure to volatile fatty acids in an acidic environment affects the expression of certain genes in the non-glandular portion of horse gastric mucosa. The study reveals that age can modify the regulation of the sodium-potassium adenosinetriphosphatase mRNA and sodium-hydrogen exchanger mRNAs.

Background and Objectives

• The research aimed to assess how the expression of mRNA (the genetic blueprint that guides the formation of proteins) for sodium-potassium adenosinetriphosphatase (NAKA) and sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE) in samples of the non-glandular section of the horse’s gastric mucosa could be affected by volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in an acidic setting.

Methods

• The study was conducted with 10 horses, divided into two age-based groups: those 5 years old or younger, and those 12 years or older.
• Samples collected from the non-glandular part of the horse’s gastric mucosa were exposed in ‘Ussing chambers’ to various solutions: Plain Ringer’s solution (control), Ringer’s solution with a blend of VFAs at two different pH levels (1.5 and 4.0), and Ringer’s solution containing acetic acid also at two different pH levels (1.5 and 4.0).
• Their aim was to determine the expression levels of mRNA for the beta1 subunit of NAKA and the NHE-3 isoform using real-time PCR assays.

Results

• In younger horses (<= 5 years old), after exposing to the mixture of VFAs or acetic acid, the relative expression of mRNA for NAKA significantly decreased while expression of mRNA for NHE significantly increased compared to the control samples.
• However, in older horses (>= 12 years old), the exposure led to a significant increase in the relative expression of mRNA for both NAKA and NHE compared to the control samples.

Conclusion

• The results indicated that in an acidic environment involving VFAs, the relative expression of mRNA for NAKA (but not NHE) in samples from the non-glandular section of the horse’s gastric mucosa is an age-dependent event.