Effects of High-Speed Training on Messenger RNA Expression in Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses.
Abstract: Accumulating high-speed exercise has been identified as a significant risk factor for catastrophic injuries in racing Thoroughbreds. Injuries, regardless of severity, are a main cause of withdrawal from the racing industry, raising animal welfare concerns and resulting in significant economic losses. While most of the current literature focuses on injuries incurred during racing rather than training, the present study aims to help fill this gap. As such, peripheral blood was collected weekly, prior to exercise or administration of medication, from eighteen, two-year-old Thoroughbreds throughout their first season of race training. Messenger RNA (mRNA) was isolated and used to analyze the expression of 34 genes via RT-qPCR. Statistical analysis of the noninjured horses (n = 6) showed that 13 genes were significantly correlated with increasing average weekly high-speed furlong performance. Additionally, there was a negative correlation for CXCL1, IGFBP3, and MPO with both cumulative high-speed furlongs and week of training for all horses. Comparison of both groups showed opposing correlations between the anti-inflammatory index (IL1RN, IL-10, and PTGS1) and average weekly high-speed furlong performance. Furthermore, evaluation of training effects on mRNA expression during the weeks surrounding injury, showed differences between groups in IL-13 and MMP9 at -3 and -2 weeks prior to injury. While some previously reported relationships between exercise adaptation and mRNA expression were not noted in this study, this may have been due to the small sample size. Several novel correlations, however, were identified and warrant further investigation as markers of exercise adaptation or potential risk for injury.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2023-07-09 PubMed ID: 37433342DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104892Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research investigates the effects of high-speed training on the expression of different genes in two-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses. The study uses messenger RNA (mRNA) to analyze gene expression of horses during their first training season, seeking to identify potential markers of exercise adaptation or injury risk.
Objective of the Study
- The study aims to understand the relationship between high-speed training in young Thoroughbred horses and their gene expression.
- It seeks to fill a research gap concerning training-related injuries. The focus is on injury prevention, animal welfare, and minimizing financial loss in the racing industry.
Methodology
- Blood samples were collected weekly from eighteen two-year-old Thoroughbreds throughout their first season of race training. This was done before any exercise or medication administration took place.
- From these samples, messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted to analyze the expression of 34 different genes.
- The gathered data was statistically analyzed, especially focusing on the horses that did not incur any injuries during the study (n=6).
Findings
- For the non-injured horses (n=6), 13 genes were notably correlated with increasing average weekly high-speed furlong performance.
- The genes CXCL1, IGFBP3, and MPO showed a negative correlation with both cumulative high-speed furlongs and the week of training.
- Interestingly, when comparing both groups, opposing correlations were observed between the anti-inflammatory index (IL1RN, IL-10, and PTGS1) and the average weekly high-speed furlong performance.
- The effects of training on mRNA expression showed group differences in IL-13 and MMP9 at -3 and -2 weeks prior to injury.
Conclusion
- While some expected relationships between exercise adaptation and mRNA expression were not observed, the authors suggested this could be due to the small sample size.
- Several novel correlations were identified. These could serve as markers to better understand exercise adaptation in racehorses or indicate potential injury risk, warranting further investigation.
Cite This Article
APA
Johnson MG, Adam E, Watt A, Page AE.
(2023).
Effects of High-Speed Training on Messenger RNA Expression in Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 128, 104892.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104892 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY.
- Dubai Equine Hospital, Dubai, UAE.
- Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. Electronic address: a.page@uky.edu.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest No conflicts of interest have been declared by the authors.
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