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Scientific reports2024; 14(1); 18352; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-69339-x

Effects of pacing strategy on metabolic responses to 2-min intense exercise in Thoroughbred horses.

Abstract: Evidence suggests that positive pacing strategy improves exercise performance and fatigue tolerance in athletic events lasting 1-5 min. This study investigated muscle metabolic responses to positive and negative pacing strategies in Thoroughbred horses. Eight Thoroughbred horses performed 2 min treadmill running using positive (1 min at 110% maximal O uptake [V̇Omax], followed by 1 min at 90% V̇Omax) and negative (1 min at 90% V̇Omax, followed by 1 min at 110% V̇Omax) pacing strategies. The arterial-mixed venous O difference did not significantly differ between the two strategies. Plasma lactate levels increased toward 2 min, with significantly higher concentrations during positive pacing than during negative pacing. Muscle glycogen level was significantly lower at 1 and 2 min of positive pacing than those of negative pacing. Metabolomic analysis showed that the sum of glycolytic intermediates increased during the first half of positive pacing and the second half of negative pacing. Regardless of pacing strategy, the sum of tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites increased during the first half but remained unchanged thereafter. Our data suggest that positive pacing strategy is likely to activate glycolytic metabolism to a greater extent compared to negative pacing, even though the total workload is identical.
© 2024. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2024-08-07 PubMed ID: 39112781PubMed Central: 2769631DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69339-xGoogle 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.

The research article explores how different pacing strategies affect metabolic responses in Thoroughbred horses during intense, short-duration exercise. The findings suggest that a positive pacing strategy activates glycolytic metabolism more effectively than a negative pacing strategy, even though the overall workload is the same.

Research Methodology

  • The research involved eight Thoroughbred horses. These horses were subjected to 2-minute intense treadmill running sessions.
  • Two distinct pacing strategies were employed for this experiment: A positive pacing strategy (one-minute run at 110% maximum oxygen uptake, followed by a one-minute run at 90% maximum oxygen uptake), and a negative pacing strategy (one-minute run at 90% maximum oxygen uptake, followed by a one-minute run at 110% maximum oxygen uptake).
  • The researchers then analyzed the metabolic responses to these different pacing strategies by conducting metabolomic analysis, measuring plasma lactate levels, and the arterial-mixed venous oxygen difference, among other factors.

Key Findings

  • The arterial-mixed venous oxygen difference, an indicator of the volume of oxygen absorbed by the muscles, didn’t show a significant difference between the two pacing strategies.
  • Plasma lactate levels showed an increase towards the end of the 2-minute exercise, with higher concentrations observed during the positive pacing strategy compared to the negative one. This suggests that positive pacing leads to a higher rate of anaerobic metabolism.
  • Muscle glycogen levels, which indicate the horse’s energy storage, were significantly lower at 1 and 2 minutes during positive pacing compared to negative pacing. This suggests that positive pacing leads to quicker energy depletion.
  • The sum of glycolytic intermediates, which indicates the level of glycolysis – the metabolic pathway that transforms glucose into pyruvate, increased during the first half of positive pacing and the second half of negative pacing, suggesting a higher rate of glucose metabolism during the positive pacing.
  • Regardless of the strategy, the sum of tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites, indicating the level of aerobic metabolism, increased during the first half but remained unchanged thereafter.

Conclusions

  • The research suggests that positive pacing leads to a greater activation of glycolytic metabolism compared to negative pacing, even when the total workload is identical.
  • This metabolic difference could potentially explain why positive pacing might improve exercise performance and fatigue tolerance in events lasting between one to five minutes, as suggested by previous evidence.

Cite This Article

APA
Takahashi K, Mukai K, Ebisuda Y, Sugiyama F, Yoshida T, Hatta H, Kitaoka Y. (2024). Effects of pacing strategy on metabolic responses to 2-min intense exercise in Thoroughbred horses. Sci Rep, 14(1), 18352. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-69339-x

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 18352

Researcher Affiliations

Takahashi, Kenya
  • Department of Sports Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1, Komaba, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan. kenyatakahashi@idaten.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp.
Mukai, Kazutaka
  • Sports Science Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan.
Ebisuda, Yusaku
  • Sports Science Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan.
Sugiyama, Fumi
  • Sports Science Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan.
Yoshida, Toshinobu
  • Sports Science Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan.
Hatta, Hideo
  • Department of Sports Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1, Komaba, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan.
Kitaoka, Yu
  • Department of Human Sciences, Kanagawa University, 3-27-1 Rokkakubashi, Kanagawa-Ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 221-8686, Japan. kitaoka@kanagawa-u.ac.jp.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Lactic Acid / blood
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Glycogen / metabolism
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Male
  • Exercise Test
  • Glycolysis
  • Female
  • Citric Acid Cycle

Grant Funding

  • 21K21249 / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
  • 20H04071 / Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

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