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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(16); 2444; doi: 10.3390/ani15162444

Differential Metabolomics and Cardiac Function in Trained vs. Untrained Yili Performance Horses.

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effects of training on cardiac structure and function, as well as plasma metabolite profiles in horses, in order to uncover the molecular regulatory mechanisms and cardiac remodeling under long-term exercise. We hypothesize that long-term standardized training induces physiological cardiac remodeling and differential metabolomic changes in Yili horses, which correlate with improved athletic performance. The study focuses on physiological exercise-induced cardiac remodeling, characterized by increased left ventricular wall thickness and chamber size. A total of 18 Yili horses, a unique Chinese equine breed, were included in the study of equine exercise physiology. Twelve horses underwent six months of standardized training followed by three 1000 m performance tests. Based on final rankings, they were divided into an advanced group (AG, top six horses) and a habitual group (HG, bottom six horses). The remaining six untrained horses served as the untrained group (UG), with only free-range activity. Echocardiographic results revealed significant differences ( < 0.05) between the trained and untrained groups in cardiac parameters such as LVID, LVFW, LVM, AODd, IVSs, HR, EDV, ESV, LADs, LVLD, MVD, PADs, and SV. Further comparison between AG and HG showed significant differences in AODd, EESV, HR, IVSd, LVIDs, LVM, RVDd, and RVDs ( < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis identified 465 differential metabolites between AG and HG, 456 between AG and UG, and 379 between HG and UG, with 106 overlapping metabolites among all three groups. Plasma metabolomics revealed significant negative correlations between specific long-chain lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and cardiac structural parameters (LVIDd, LVFWD, LVIDs, LVLD, MVD, and LADs), whereas LPC (O-18:2) showed an opposite trend. Key metabolites such as 3-hydroxybutanoic acid, carnitine C4:0, carnitine isoC4:0, hippuric acid, and uric acid were significantly lower in AG compared to HG and UG, with uric acid levels negatively correlated with LVID and LVM. Glycerophospholipid metabolism emerged as the core pathway differentiating exercise capacity among all groups. Notably, efferocytosis (vs. HG and UG) and tryptophan metabolism/aromatic amino acid biosynthesis (vs. HG) were specifically enriched in AG. These findings provide a novel theoretical basis and research perspective for optimizing racehorse training strategies and exploring the metabolic regulation of the athletic heart.
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Publication Date: 2025-08-20 PubMed ID: 40867773PubMed Central: PMC12382719DOI: 10.3390/ani15162444Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

Overview

  • This study examined how long-term training affects heart structure, function, and plasma metabolites in Yili horses, a Chinese breed, aiming to understand molecular mechanisms behind exercise-induced cardiac changes and improved performance.
  • The researchers compared trained vs. untrained horses and within trained groups to identify metabolomic profiles associated with enhanced cardiac remodeling and athletic ability.

Study Objectives and Hypotheses

  • Objective: To investigate the effects of long-term standardized training on cardiac morphology and function in Yili horses and to explore the associated changes in plasma metabolites.
  • Hypothesis: Training induces physiological cardiac remodeling characterized by structural changes and alters metabolite profiles; these changes correlate with better athletic performance.
  • Focus: Physiological remodeling including increased left ventricular wall thickness and chamber size, markers of improved heart function due to exercise.

Experimental Design and Subjects

  • Subjects: 18 Yili horses divided into three groups:
    • Advanced group (AG): Top 6 horses after training and performance tests.
    • Habitual group (HG): Bottom 6 horses after training and tests.
    • Untrained group (UG): 6 horses with no training, free-range activity only.
  • Training: 12 horses underwent six months of standardized training and three 1000 m performance tests.
  • Measurements: Echocardiography assessed heart structure and function; plasma samples analyzed by metabolomics to identify metabolic changes.

Cardiac Structural and Functional Findings

  • Significant differences between trained (AG+HG) and untrained (UG) horses in multiple cardiac parameters (p < 0.05), including:
    • Left ventricular internal diameter (LVID), left ventricular free wall thickness (LVFW), left ventricular mass (LVM), aortic diameter (AODd), interventricular septum thickness (IVSs), heart rate (HR), end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV, ESV), left atrial diameter (LADs), left ventricular longitudinal diameter (LVLD), mitral and pulmonary valve diameters (MVD, PADs), stroke volume (SV).
  • Comparisons between AG and HG revealed additional differences in:
    • Aortic diameter (AODd), end-systolic volume (EESV), heart rate (HR), interventricular septum thickness during diastole (IVSd), left ventricular internal diameter during systole (LVIDs), left ventricular mass (LVM), right ventricular diameters (RVDd, RVDs).
  • These changes demonstrate physiological cardiac remodeling associated with training and higher performance ranks.

Metabolomic Analysis and Key Differential Metabolites

  • Identified hundreds of differential metabolites:
    • 465 between AG and HG
    • 456 between AG and UG
    • 379 between HG and UG
    • 106 metabolites overlapped among all three comparisons
  • Specific findings included:
    • Strong negative correlations between certain long-chain lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and cardiac structural parameters such as LVIDd, LVFWD, LVIDs, LVLD, MVD, LADs.
    • The metabolite LPC (O-18:2) showed an opposite, positive correlation trend.
    • Lower levels in AG (advanced performers) of metabolites:
      • 3-hydroxybutanoic acid
      • Carnitine C4:0 and isoC4:0
      • Hippuric acid
      • Uric acid (which negatively correlated with LVID and LVM)

Pathways and Biological Implications

  • Glycerophospholipid metabolism emerged as a core pathway distinguishing exercise capacity and cardiac adaptations among groups.
  • Unique enrichment patterns in AG included:
    • Efferocytosis pathways relative to HG and UG, which relate to the clearance of dead cells and inflammation resolution, potentially important for cardiac remodeling and health.
    • Tryptophan metabolism and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis pathways compared to HG, suggesting altered amino acid metabolism linked to improved cardiac and athletic performance.
  • These biochemical pathways may contribute to the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying physiological adaptations to exercise in the athletic heart.

Conclusions and Applications

  • The research provides evidence that long-term training induces cardiac structural remodeling and distinct metabolomic changes in Yili horses, which correlate with improved athletic performance.
  • Findings offer a molecular basis for optimizing training protocols by understanding metabolic regulation of cardiac function in racehorses.
  • Highlights potential biomarkers (e.g., LPCs, uric acid) and metabolic pathways as targets for future research to enhance equine athletic conditioning and cardiovascular health.

Cite This Article

APA
Wang T, Meng J, Yang X, Zeng Y, Yao X, Ren W. (2025). Differential Metabolomics and Cardiac Function in Trained vs. Untrained Yili Performance Horses. Animals (Basel), 15(16), 2444. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15162444

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 16
PII: 2444

Researcher Affiliations

Wang, Tongliang
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Horse Industry Research Institute, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Meng, Jun
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Horse Industry Research Institute, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Yang, Xixi
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Zeng, Yaqi
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Horse Industry Research Institute, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Yao, Xinkui
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Horse Industry Research Institute, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
Ren, Wanlu
  • College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Horse Breeding and Exercise Physiology, Urumqi 830052, China.
  • Horse Industry Research Institute, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, China.

Grant Funding

  • 32202667 / National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Program
  • 2022A02013-1 / Major Science and Technology Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
  • ZYYD2025JD02 / Central Guidance Project for Local Science and Technology Development - (Research on the Regulation Mechanism of Horse Breeding and Athletic Performance)
  • 2024D01B40 / The Youth Science Fund of the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Wang T, Yang X, Ren W, Meng J, Yao X, Chu H, Yao R, Zhai M, Zeng Y. Multi-Omics Deciphers Divergent Mechanisms in Differentially Cardiac-Remodeled Yili Horses Under Conditions of Equivalent Power Output. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 9;15(22).
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  4. Wang T, Yang X, Ren W, Meng J, Yao X, Chu H, Yao R, Zhai M, Zeng Y. Integrating miRNA, mRNA, and Targeted Metabolomics Analyses to Explore the Regulatory Mechanism of Cardiac Remodeling in Yili Horses. Biology (Basel) 2025 Nov 1;14(11).
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