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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica1974; 15(3); 287-309; doi: 10.1186/BF03547460

Fibre composition, enzyme activity and concentrations of metabolites and electrolytes in muscles of standardbred horses.

Abstract: LINDHOLM, ARNE and KARIN PIEHL: Acta vet. scand. 1974, , 287–309. — Measurements of metabolites, electrolytes, water, RNA and protein concentrations, the activity of certain muscle enzymes (SDH and PFK) and muscle fibre composition were made on biopsy specimens from the gluteus medius muscle of 68 standardbred horses, ½ to 8 years old. The muscle fibres were classified in 3 major categories, slow twitch (ST), fast twitch and high oxidative (FTH) and fast twitch (FT) fibres. The percentage of FTH fibres was higher after the age of 4 years, averaging 54 %. ST fibres comprised 24 % and this value remained unchanged. Glycogen concentration increased with age and averaged 95 and 126 mmol × kg wet muscle in the youngest and oldest age groups, respectively. Lactate and pyruvate concentrations were markedly decreased, whereas ATP, CP, G-6-P and glucose were unaffected with age. Water content averaged 75 % in all age groups, whereas Na concentration increased, K concentration decreased and Mg concentration remained unchanged with increasing age. SDH activity in ½ and 8-year old horses increased from 6.1 to 13.6 μmol × (g×min.). PFK activity reached a peak at the age of 4 years after which it declined. With the data presented as a background, measurements on muscle biopsies may be a new aid in diagnosing diseases in horses and even in evaluating treatment. Of special interest might be investigations of muscle biopsy specimens as a base in the formation of more adequate training methods in race-horses. electrolytes; fibre types; glycogen storage; horse skeletal muscle; phosphofructokinase; succinate dehydrogenase. Muskelbiopsier från gluteus medius, vastus lateralis, triceps brachii och infraspinatus har tagits på 68 travhästar i åldern ½–8 år. Muskelbitarna har undersökts på innehåll av glykogen, olika metaboliter, elektrolyter, vatten, RNA, protein, enzymaktivitet (SDH och PFK) samt fibersammansättning. Muskelfibrerna klassificerades i tre huvudgrupper: Långsamma (ST), snabba-högoxidativa (FTH) och snabba-lågoxidativa (FT) fibrer. Antalet FTH fibrer ökade med ålder och var i medeltal 54 % vid 4–8 års åider. ST fibrerna utgjorde 24 % vilket ej ändrade sig med aider. Ytorna av de enskilda fibrerna var större hos hästar äldre än 2 år i jämförelse med yngre hästar. Ökningen uppgick till 25 % för FT fibrer och till 15 % för ST och FTH fibrer. Fiberytan av FT omfattade den största delen av totala tvärsnittsytan (43 %). Glykogenkoncentration i vila var 95 mmoler glukosenheter × kg våt muskel hos föl (% år) och ökade med ålder samt var hos 5–8 år gamla hästar 126 mmoler × kg. Laktat- och pyruvatvärden på föl var i genomsnitt 5,5 respektive 0,49 mmoler × kg våt muskel. Vid 8 års åider hade dessa värden sjunkit till 2,9 respektive 0,03 mmoler × kg. Övriga undersökta metaboliter (ATP, GP, G-6-P, glukos) ändrades inte med hästens ålder. Vatteninnehållet i muskulaturen var i genomsnitt 75 % hos samtliga hästar. Koncentrationen av Na var högre och av K lägre i den äldsta gruppen hästar jämfört med föl. Mg-koncentrationen ändrades inte med ålder. Aktiviteten av SDH var hos föl 6,1 μmoler × (g × min), steg hos äldre hästar och nådde 13,6 μmoler × (g × min) hos 8 år gamla hästar. Aktiviteten av PFK steg till 4 års ålder varefter den åter minskade. Koncentrationen av RNA och protein ändrades inte med ålder. Inga signifikanta skillnader beträffande de undersökta parametrarna noterades i de fyra olika muskier som undersökts. Mot bakgrunden av erhållna resultat konkluderas att undersökningar baserade på muskelbiopsier bör vara av värde vid diagnostisering av muskelsjukdomar hos häst och vid utvärdering av olika behandlingsformer. Av speciellt värde kan sådan undersökning visa sig vara i samband med framtagande av mer ändamålsenliga träningsmetoder för sporthästar.
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Publication Date: 1974-01-01 PubMed ID: 4137664PubMed Central: PMC8407315DOI: 10.1186/BF03547460Google 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 investigated muscle fiber composition, enzyme activity, and concentration of metabolites and electrolytes in the gluteus medius muscle of standardbred race horses, providing insights into age-related changes and their potential implications for disease diagnosis and training methods.

Study Overview and Approach

  • The authors conducted a comprehensive study on the muscle fiber composition, enzyme activity, and the concentration of metabolites and electrolytes in the gluteus medius muscle.
  • The study was performed on a sample of 68 standardbred horses, ranging between half to 8 years of age.
  • Muscle biopsies were performed and analyzed concerning variables such as RNA and protein concentration, water content, etc.

Classification of Muscle Fibres

  • The muscle fibers were categorized into three major types: Slow Twitch (ST), Fast Twitch and High Oxidative (FTH), and Fast Twitch (FT) fibers.
  • The proportion of FTH fibres was found to increase with age, averaging 54% after the age of 4 years.
  • The proportion of ST fibres was observed to be constant at 24%.

Concentrations of Metabolites and Electrolytes

  • It was observed that the concentration of glycogen increased with age, averaging 95 mmol/kg in the youngest group, and 126 mmol/kg in the oldest group.
  • Lactate and pyruvate concentrations significantly decreased with age, whereas ATP, CP, G-6-P and glucose levels remained unchanged.
  • Na concentration was found to increase, K concentration decreased, and Mg concentration remained unchanged with age.

Enzyme Activity

  • The enzymatic activity for succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) increased with age from 6.1 to 13.6 μmol × (g×min).
  • Phosphofructokinase (PFK) enzyme activity peaked at the age of 4 years and declined thereafter.

Implications and Applications

  • The findings of the research lay a foundation for using muscle biopsies as a method for diagnosing diseases in horses.
  • Additionally, the study results can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments.
  • Importantly, the research offers insights that could also be applied in the development of more suitable training methods for race horses.

This study brings valuable insights into the physiology of horses that not only aid in disease diagnosis and treatment evaluation, but also help enhance training methodologies for sporting horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Lindholm A, Piehl K. (1974). Fibre composition, enzyme activity and concentrations of metabolites and electrolytes in muscles of standardbred horses. Acta Vet Scand, 15(3), 287-309. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547460

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 3
Pages: 287-309

Researcher Affiliations

Lindholm, A
    Piehl, K

      MeSH Terms

      • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
      • Age Factors
      • Animals
      • Biopsy, Needle / veterinary
      • Breeding
      • Female
      • Glucose / metabolism
      • Glucosephosphates / metabolism
      • Glycogen / metabolism
      • Horses / metabolism
      • Lactates / metabolism
      • Magnesium / metabolism
      • Male
      • Methods
      • Muscles / enzymology
      • Muscles / metabolism
      • Muscles / pathology
      • Phosphocreatine / metabolism
      • Phosphofructokinase-1 / metabolism
      • Potassium / metabolism
      • Pyruvates / metabolism
      • Sodium / metabolism
      • Staining and Labeling
      • Succinate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
      • Time Factors

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