Distribution of fast myosin heavy chain-based muscle fibres in the gluteus medius of untrained horses: mismatch between antigenic and ATPase determinants.
Abstract: The distribution of muscle fibres classified on the basis of their content of different myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms was analysed in muscle biopsies from the gluteus medius of adult untrained horses by correlating immunohistochemistry with specific anti-MHC monoclonal antibodies and standard myofibrillar ATPase (mATPase) histochemistry. Percutaneous needle biopsies were taken at 3 depths (20, 40 and 60 mm) from 4 4-y-old Andalusian stallions. The percentage of 'pure' I MHC fibres increased whereas that for pure IIX MHC fibres decreased from the most superficial to the deepest sampling site. Within the fast fibres, types IIA and IIAX MHC-classified fibres were proportionately more abundant in the deepest sampling site than in the superficial region of the muscle. The immunohistochemical and histochemical characterisation of a large number of single fibres (n = 1375) was compared and correlated on a fibre-to-fibre basis. The results showed that 40% of the fibres analysed were pure type I (expressing only MHC-I); they showed correct matching between their antigenic and mATPase determinants. In contrast, within the fast fibres, a considerable proportion of fibres were found showing a mismatch between their immunohistochemical and mATPase profiles. The most common mismatched fibre phenotypes comprised fibres displaying coexpression of both fast MHCs when analysed by immunocytochemistry, but showing an mATPase profile similar to typical IIX fibres (moderate mATPase reaction after preincubation at pH 4.4). Considered altogether, the total mismatched fibres represented only 4.2% of the whole fast fibre population in the superficial region of the muscle, but their proportion increased to 15.6% and 38.4% in the middle and deep regions, respectively, of gluteus medius. It is concluded that a considerable number of hybrid fast MHC IIAX fibres are present in the gluteus medius of untrained horses, suggesting that equine type II fibres have probably been misclassified in numerous previous publications based on the use of histochemistry alone. This has important implications in attempts to study the physiological properties of fast fibre types adequately in horses.
Publication Date: 1999-07-01 PubMed ID: 10386774PubMed Central: PMC1467936DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-7580.1999.19430363.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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.
This research article investigates the muscle fibre distribution in the gluteus medius muscle of untrained horses, and finds mismatches between the fibre types identified by two different analysis techniques.
Objective and Methodology
- The objective of the study was to examine the distribution and types of the muscle fibres in the gluteus medius muscle of untrained horses. This was done based on the presence of different myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms, which are proteins found in muscle fibres. The MHC isoforms served as markers of muscle fibre types.
- Two analysis techniques were used: immunohistochemistry (using anti-MHC monoclonal antibodies) and myofibrillar ATPase (mATPase) histochemistry. Immunohistochemistry involves the use of antibodies to visualize proteins, while mATPase histochemistry is a method used to identify different types of muscle fibres based on their mATPase activity.
- Percutaneous needle biopsies were taken from three different depths of the muscle from four untrained adult Andalusian stallions. Each layer of the muscle was profiled separately to observe the distribution and types of muscle fibres in different parts of the muscle.
Main Findings
- The percentage of ‘pure’ type I MHC fibres increased with depth from the superficial to the deepest layers of the muscle, while that of pure type IIX MHC fibres decreased.
- Within the fast fibre types (types IIA and IIAX), fibres were more abundant in the deepest layers of the muscle than in the superficial layers.
- When characterizing a large number of single fibres, a significant mismatch was observed between the two analysis techniques. While 40% of the fibres correctly matched in their classification by the two techniques, a considerable proportion of the fast fibres showed a mismatch. These mismatched fibres displayed co-expression of both fast MHC types when analyzed by immunocytochemistry but showed an mATPase profile similar to typical IIX fibres.
- The total mismatched fibres represented only 4.2% of the entire fast fibre population in the superficial region of the muscle. However, this proportion increased significantly to 15.6% and 38.4% in the middle and deep regions, respectively.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that a significant number of hybrid fast MHC IIAX fibres are present in the gluteus medius muscle of untrained horses.
- This finding suggests that equine type II fibres may have been misclassified in previous research published, which relied solely on mATPase histochemistry for classification.
Implications
- This research has significant implications for the study of the physiological properties of fast fibre types in horses, as accurate classification is necessary for understanding muscle function and performance.
- The mismatch observed between the two analysis techniques calls for further research to validate and improve muscle fibre type classification methods.
Cite This Article
APA
Linnane L, Serrano AL, Rivero JL.
(1999).
Distribution of fast myosin heavy chain-based muscle fibres in the gluteus medius of untrained horses: mismatch between antigenic and ATPase determinants.
J Anat, 194 ( Pt 3)(Pt 3), 363-372.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1469-7580.1999.19430363.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Science, Hartpury College, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Epitopes / analysis
- Histocytochemistry
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Immunohistochemistry
- Male
- Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / chemistry
- Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch / cytology
- Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / chemistry
- Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / cytology
- Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry
- Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
- Myosins / analysis
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Protein Isoforms / analysis
References
This article includes 23 references
- Sieck GC, Zhan WZ, Prakash YS, Daood MJ, Watchko JF. SDH and actomyosin ATPase activities of different fiber types in rat diaphragm muscle.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1995 Nov;79(5):1629-39.
- López-Rivero JL, Serrano AL, Diz AM, Galisteo AM. Variability of muscle fibre composition and fibre size in the horse gluteus medius: an enzyme-histochemical and morphometric study.. J Anat 1992 Aug;181 ( Pt 1)(Pt 1):1-10.
- Rivero JL, Talmadge RJ, Edgerton VR. Myosin heavy chain isoforms in adult equine skeletal muscle: an immunohistochemical and electrophoretic study.. Anat Rec 1996 Oct;246(2):185-94.
- Rivero JL, Talmadge RJ, Edgerton VR. Correlation between myofibrillar ATPase activity and myosin heavy chain composition in equine skeletal muscle and the influence of training.. Anat Rec 1996 Oct;246(2):195-207.
- Pette D, Staron RS. Mammalian skeletal muscle fiber type transitions.. Int Rev Cytol 1997;170:143-223.
- Brooke MH, Kaiser KK. Muscle fiber types: how many and what kind?. Arch Neurol 1970 Oct;23(4):369-79.
- Lindholm A, Piehl K. Fibre composition, enzyme activity and concentrations of metabolites and electrolytes in muscles of standardbred horses.. Acta Vet Scand 1974;15(3):287-309.
- Nwoye L, Mommaerts WF, Simpson DR, Seraydarian K, Marusich M. Evidence for a direct action of thyroid hormone in specifying muscle properties.. Am J Physiol 1982 Mar;242(3):R401-8.
- Staron RS, Pette D. Correlation between myofibrillar ATPase activity and myosin heavy chain composition in rabbit muscle fibers.. Histochemistry 1986;86(1):19-23.
- Biral D, Betto R, Danieli-Betto D, Salviati G. Myosin heavy chain composition of single fibres from normal human muscle.. Biochem J 1988 Feb 15;250(1):307-8.
- Bär A, Pette D. Three fast myosin heavy chains in adult rat skeletal muscle.. FEBS Lett 1988 Aug 1;235(1-2):153-5.
- Schiaffino S, Gorza L, Sartore S, Saggin L, Ausoni S, Vianello M, Gundersen K, Lømo T. Three myosin heavy chain isoforms in type 2 skeletal muscle fibres.. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 1989 Jun;10(3):197-205.
- Klitgaard H, Zhou M, Richter EA. Myosin heavy chain composition of single fibres from m. biceps brachii of male body builders.. Acta Physiol Scand 1990 Oct;140(2):175-80.
- Pette D, Staron RS. Cellular and molecular diversities of mammalian skeletal muscle fibers.. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 1990;116:1-76.
- Staron RS. Correlation between myofibrillar ATPase activity and myosin heavy chain composition in single human muscle fibers.. Histochemistry 1991;96(1):21-4.
- Rivero JL, Galisteo AM, Agüera E, Miró F. Skeletal muscle histochemistry in male and female Andalusian and Arabian horses of different ages.. Res Vet Sci 1993 Mar;54(2):160-9.
- Staron RS, Pette D. The continuum of pure and hybrid myosin heavy chain-based fibre types in rat skeletal muscle.. Histochemistry 1993 Aug;100(2):149-53.
- Andersen JL, Klitgaard H, Saltin B. Myosin heavy chain isoforms in single fibres from m. vastus lateralis of sprinters: influence of training.. Acta Physiol Scand 1994 Jun;151(2):135-42.
- Smerdu V, Karsch-Mizrachi I, Campione M, Leinwand L, Schiaffino S. Type IIx myosin heavy chain transcripts are expressed in type IIb fibers of human skeletal muscle.. Am J Physiol 1994 Dec;267(6 Pt 1):C1723-8.
- Bottinelli R, Canepari M, Reggiani C, Stienen GJ. Myofibrillar ATPase activity during isometric contraction and isomyosin composition in rat single skinned muscle fibres.. J Physiol 1994 Dec 15;481 ( Pt 3)(Pt 3):663-75.
- Sant'ana Pereira JA, Wessels A, Nijtmans L, Moorman AF, Sargeant AJ. New method for the accurate characterization of single human skeletal muscle fibres demonstrates a relation between mATPase and MyHC expression in pure and hybrid fibre types.. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 1995 Feb;16(1):21-34.
- Pereira Sant'Ana JA, Ennion S, Sargeant AJ, Moorman AF, Goldspink G. Comparison of the molecular, antigenic and ATPase determinants of fast myosin heavy chains in rat and human: a single-fibre study.. Pflugers Arch 1997 Dec;435(1):151-63.
- Serrano AL, Petrie JL, Rivero JL, Hermanson JW. Myosin isoforms and muscle fiber characteristics in equine gluteus medius muscle.. Anat Rec 1996 Apr;244(4):444-51.
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Petersen JL, Valberg SJ, Mickelson JR, McCue ME. Haplotype diversity in the equine myostatin gene with focus on variants associated with race distance propensity and muscle fiber type proportions.. Anim Genet 2014 Dec;45(6):827-35.
- Curry JW, Hohl R, Noakes TD, Kohn TA. High oxidative capacity and type IIx fibre content in springbok and fallow deer skeletal muscle suggest fast sprinters with a resistance to fatigue.. J Exp Biol 2012 Nov 15;215(Pt 22):3997-4005.
- Graziotti GH, Chamizo VE, Ríos C, Acevedo LM, Rodríguez-Menéndez JM, Victorica C, Rivero JL. Adaptive functional specialisation of architectural design and fibre type characteristics in agonist shoulder flexor muscles of the llama, Lama glama.. J Anat 2012 Aug;221(2):151-63.
- Sutherland H, Salmons S, Ramnarine IR, Capoccia M, Walsh AA, Jarvis JC. Adaptive conditioning of skeletal muscle in a large animal model (Sus domesticus).. J Anat 2006 Aug;209(2):165-77.
- Gondim FJ, Modolo LV, Campos GE, Salgado I. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase is heterogeneously distributed in equine myofibers and highly expressed in endurance trained horses.. Can J Vet Res 2005 Jan;69(1):46-52.
- Serrano AL, Pérez M, Lucía A, Chicharro JL, Quiroz-Rothe E, Rivero JL. Immunolabelling, histochemistry and in situ hybridisation in human skeletal muscle fibres to detect myosin heavy chain expression at the protein and mRNA level.. J Anat 2001 Sep;199(Pt 3):329-37.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
