Effect of training and detraining on monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1 and MCT4 in Thoroughbred horses.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of training and detraining on the monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1 and MCT4 levels in the gluteus medius muscle of Thoroughbred horses. Twelve Thoroughbred horses were used for the analysis. For 18 weeks, all the horses underwent high-intensity training (HIT), with running at 90-110% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max ) for 3 min, 5 days week(-1). Thereafter, the horses either underwent detraining for 6 weeks by either 3 min of moderate-intensity training (MIT) at 70% VO2 max, 5 days week(-1) (HIT-MIT group) or stall rest (HIT-SR group). The horses underwent an incremental exercise test, VO2 max was measured and resting muscle samples were obtained from the middle gluteus muscle at 0, 18 and 24 weeks. The content of MCT1 and MCT4 proteins increased after 18 weeks of HIT. At the end of this period, an increase was noted in the citrate synthase activity, while phosphofructokinase activity remained unchanged. After 6 weeks of detraining, all these indexes returned to the pretraining levels in the HIT-SR group. However, in the HIT-MIT group, the increase in the MCT1 protein content and citrate synthase activity was maintained after 6 weeks of MIT, while the MCT4 protein content decreased to the pretraining value. These results suggest that the content of MCT1 and MCT4 proteins increases after HIT in Thoroughbred horses. In addition, the increase in the MCT1 protein content and oxidative capacity induced by HIT can be maintained by MIT of 70% VO2 max, but the increase in the MCT4 protein content cannot be maintained by MIT.
Publication Date: 2010-12-10 PubMed ID: 21148623DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2010.055483Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study explored the impact of training and detraining on the levels of certain proteins, monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1 and MCT4, in the muscles of Thoroughbred horses.
Research Objectives and Methodology
- The study aimed to understand the changes in MCT1 and MCT4 levels in the Thoroughbred horses’ gluteus medius muscle, under the effects of the varying intensity and duration of physical exertion. Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are proteins that are involved in the transportation of lactate molecules across cell membranes, contributing to a variety of metabolic processes in animals.
- The experiments involved 12 Thoroughbred horses undergoing high-intensity training (HIT) for 18 weeks, running at 90-110% of their maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) for 3 minutes, 5 times a week.
- Following this stage, the horses underwent a detraining period of 6 weeks under two conditions: moderate-intensity training (MIT) at 70% VO2 max, 5 days a week (HIT-MIT group), or complete rest (HIT-SR group).
- Scientific tests and muscle sample acquisitions were carried out at the beginning of the examination, following the period of high-intensity training (18 weeks), and finally after the detraining phase (24 weeks).
Major Findings
- The results showed an increase in MCT1 and MCT4 protein levels after 18 weeks of high-intensity training. There was also an observed increase in the activity of citrate synthase (an enzyme involved in cellular respiration), while the activity of phosphofructokinase (an enzyme crucial for glucose metabolism) remained steady.
- Following the detraining phase, the HIT-SR group (those who rested) saw a return to pre-training levels in these indexes.
- In contrast, the HIT-MIT group, which underwent moderate intensity training, maintained the increase in MCT1 protein content and citrate synthase activity levels. However, MCT4 levels decreased to pre-training numbers.
Research Implications
- The findings indicate that high-intensity training leads to an increase in MCT1 and MCT4 proteins in Thoroughbred horses. Crucially, the researchers found that the increase in MCT1 protein content and oxidative capacity induced by high-intensity training can be sustained by following it with moderate-intensity training.
- However, this was not the case for MCT4, indicating that maintaining its increase requires continuous high-intensity exercise or a different approach.
- The study conducts worthwhile research in the domain of equine science and sports physiology, potentially contributing to the understanding of horse training regimens and optimizing athletic performance in animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Kitaoka Y, Masuda H, Mukai K, Hiraga A, Takemasa T, Hatta H.
(2010).
Effect of training and detraining on monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1 and MCT4 in Thoroughbred horses.
Exp Physiol, 96(3), 348-355.
https://doi.org/10.1113/expphysiol.2010.055483 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Buttocks / physiology
- Citrate (si)-Synthase / metabolism
- Exercise Test / methods
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Lactic Acid / metabolism
- Male
- Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / biosynthesis
- Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / genetics
- Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Phosphofructokinases / metabolism
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Symporters / biosynthesis
- Symporters / genetics
- Symporters / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Kitaoka Y, Takahashi K, Hatta H. Inhibition of monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) 1 and 4 reduces exercise capacity in mice. Physiol Rep 2022 Sep;10(17):e15457.
- Takahashi K, Kitaoka Y, Hatta H. Effects of endurance training on metabolic enzyme activity and transporter protein levels in the skeletal muscles of orchiectomized mice. J Physiol Sci 2022 Jun 29;72(1):14.
- Mukai K, Kitaoka Y, Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Takahashi K, Ohmura H. Moderate-intensity training in hypoxia improves exercise performance and glycolytic capacity of skeletal muscle in horses. Physiol Rep 2021 Dec;9(23):e15145.
- Takahashi K, Kitaoka Y, Matsunaga Y, Hatta H. Lactate administration does not affect denervation-induced loss of mitochondrial content and muscle mass in mice. FEBS Open Bio 2021 Oct;11(10):2836-2844.
- Wang W, Mukai K, Takahashi K, Ohmura H, Takahashi T, Hatta H, Kitaoka Y. Short-term hypoxic training increases monocarboxylate transporter 4 and phosphofructokinase activity in Thoroughbreds. Physiol Rep 2020 Jun;8(11):e14473.
- Takahashi K, Kitaoka Y, Yamamoto K, Matsunaga Y, Hatta H. Oral Lactate Administration Additively Enhances Endurance Training-Induced Increase in Cytochrome C Oxidase Activity in Mouse Soleus Muscle. Nutrients 2020 Mar 14;12(3).
- Takahashi K, Kitaoka Y, Matsunaga Y, Hatta H. Effects of lactate administration on mitochondrial enzyme activity and monocarboxylate transporters in mouse skeletal muscle. Physiol Rep 2019 Sep;7(17):e14224.
- Bryan K, McGivney BA, Farries G, McGettigan PA, McGivney CL, Gough KF, MacHugh DE, Katz LM, Hill EW. Equine skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise and training: evidence of differential regulation of autophagosomal and mitochondrial components. BMC Genomics 2017 Aug 9;18(1):595.
- Hiraga A, Sugano S. Studies on exercise physiology of the racehorse performed in Japan during the period from the 1930s to the 1970s: respiration and heart rate during exercise and the effect of exercise on blood characteristics. J Equine Sci 2016;27(2):37-48.
- Kitaoka Y, Takahashi Y, Machida M, Takeda K, Takemasa T, Hatta H. Effect of AMPK activation on monocarboxylate transporter (MCT)1 and MCT4 in denervated muscle. J Physiol Sci 2014 Jan;64(1):59-64.
- Kitaoka Y, Machida M, Takemasa T, Hatta H. Expression of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 1 and MCT4 in overloaded mice plantaris muscle. J Physiol Sci 2011 Nov;61(6):467-72.
- Takahashi K, Mukai K, Takahashi Y, Ebisuda Y, Sugiyama F, Hatta H, Kitaoka Y. Effects of hypoxia and hyperoxia on exercise-induced metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles in equine skeletal muscle. J Exp Biol 2025 Dec 15;228(24).
- Carvalho JRG, Sales NAA, Littiere TO, Costa GB, Castro CM, Polisel EEC, Orsi JB, Ramos GV, Santos IFC, Gobatto CA, Manchado-Gobatto FB, Ferraz GC. Acute whole-body vibration as a recovery strategy did not alter the content of gluteus medius monocarboxylate-transporters, lactatemia, and acidosis induced by intense exercise in horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1538195.
- Shang M, Li Z, Du D, Xu G, Lian D, Liao Z, Wang D, Amin B, Wang Z, Chen W, Zhang N, Wang L. Comparative Study for Safety and Efficacy of OAGB and SADJB-SG: A Retrospective Study. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2024;17:3499-3508.
- Takahashi K, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Sugiyama F, Yoshida T, Hatta H, Kitaoka Y. Effects of pacing strategy on metabolic responses to 2-min intense exercise in Thoroughbred horses. Sci Rep 2024 Aug 7;14(1):18352.
- Takahashi K, Mukai K, Takahashi Y, Ebisuda Y, Hatta H, Kitaoka Y. Metabolomic responses to high-intensity interval exercise in equine skeletal muscle: effects of rest interval duration. J Exp Biol 2024 Feb 15;227(4).
- Mukai K, Ohmura H, Takahashi Y, Ebisuda Y, Yoneda K, Miyata H. Physiological and skeletal muscle responses to high-intensity interval exercise in Thoroughbred horses. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1241266.
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