Gender differences in bone turnover in 2-year-old Thoroughbreds.
Abstract: Injuries to the skeleton are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in racehorses and age, gender and season have all been shown to influence risk of injury. Objective: To use biochemical markers of bone cell activity to establish to whether cellular processes in bone underlie these described effects. Methods: Blood samples were collected monthly from 2-year-old horses in race training between November 1998 and September 1999. Mean age at the start of the study was 20 months (range 18-23 months), with no significant difference in average age between colts (n = 84) and fillies (n = 63). Three markers were measured; osteocalcin (OC, bone formation), the carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP, bone resorption) and the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP), which is less 'bone-specific' than the other 2 markers. Results: Colts had, on average, 3.62 ng/ml higher OC concentrations (P = 0.044) and 0.68 mg/l higher ICTP concentrations (P = 0.01) than fillies. The effect of gender was not statistically significant for PICP. However, in May, PICP concentrations were on average 157 mg/l higher in fillies than colts. There was no effect of age or season on marker concentrations. Conclusions: This study has shown that there are gender differences in bone turnover markers in 2-year-old Thoroughbreds; however, age, within the limited range studied, did not have a significant effect on bone cell activity. Lower bone marker concentrations may reflect smaller bone size and/or earlier skeletal maturation in fillies. An increase in concentrations of PICP in fillies in spring and early summer may relect an influence of sex hormones on collagen turnover. Conclusions: Gender differences in bone cell activity in 2-year-old colts and fillies may influence bone's adaptive responses to training and risk of injury.
Publication Date: 2003-12-03 PubMed ID: 14649363DOI: 10.2746/042516403775696230Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research examines the differences in bone turnover in 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses based on their gender and analyzes how these variances can contribute to the rate of injuries endured by the horses during races.
Research Objective and Methodology
- The goal of this research was to establish whether cellular activities in bone are responsible for injury risks, which vary based on factors like age, gender, and season in horses.
- The chosen method involved the monthly collection of blood samples from 2-year-old horses undergoing race training from November 1998 to September 1999.
- Three markers were measured in this study for bone formation (osteocalcin, OC), bone resorption (carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen, ICTP), and the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I collagen (PICP) which is a ‘less bone-specific’ marker.
Findings of the Study
- The study found that colts (male horses) had higher average OC and ICTP concentrations as compared to fillies (female horses).
- No significant gender difference was found for the PICP concentration, except in May when fillies had higher average PICP concentrations than colts.
- The research discovered no noticeable effects of age or season on these marker concentrations.
- Lower bone marker concentrations in fillies might indicate smaller bone size or early skeletal maturation.
- The increase in PICP concentrations in fillies during spring and early summer could reflect the influence of sex hormones on collagen turnover.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that there are different bone turnovers in 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses concerning their gender.
- Age doesn’t play a significant role in bone cell activity within this study’s range.
- The gender differences in bone cell activity in these horses could potentially influence their bones’ adaptive responses to training and the risk of injury.
Cite This Article
APA
Jackson BF, Lonnell C, Verheyen K, Wood JL, Pfeiffert DU, Price JS.
(2003).
Gender differences in bone turnover in 2-year-old Thoroughbreds.
Equine Vet J, 35(7), 702-706.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516403775696230 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Biomarkers / blood
- Bone Development / physiology
- Bone Remodeling / physiology
- Bone Resorption / blood
- Bone Resorption / veterinary
- Bone and Bones / metabolism
- Collagen Type I
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Male
- Osteocalcin / blood
- Osteogenesis / physiology
- Peptide Fragments / blood
- Peptides
- Procollagen / blood
- Seasons
- Sex Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Takehana K, Hatate K, Yamagishi N. Serum activities of two bone markers in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at different ages. J Vet Med Sci 2018 Jan 1;80(1):63-67.
- Ayodele BA, Pagel CN, Mackie EJ, Armour F, Yamada S, Zahra P, Courtman N, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Differences in bone turnover markers and injury risks between local and international horses: A Victorian Spring Racing Carnival study. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):333-346.
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