Heritability of percentage of fast myosin heavy chains in skeletal muscles and relationship with performance.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of fast myosin heavy chains (fast MHCs = MHC 2A + 2B) in 2 propelling muscles to estimate the heritability and to identify any relationship with performance. The gluteus medius and the biceps femoris muscles were biopsied in 100 related French Anglo-Arabian horses. The percentages of slow and fast myosin heavy chains were measured using an ELISA technique. The heritability (s.e.) of the fast MHCs percentage was estimated at 13% (0.1) using a restricted maximum likelihood resolution of a mixed animal model. There were significant (P < 0.05) correlations between the performance level and the fast MHCs percentage of the gluteus medius and biceps femoris muscles: 0.47 and 0.34 respectively. An analysis of variance revealed a significant (P < 0.05) effect of performance level in gallop racing and show jumping on the fast MHCs percentage of the gluteus medius muscle. The good performers in gallop racing (75.5 > 69.6% fast MHCs) and show jumping (74.1 > 67.8% fast MHCs) had a higher percentage of fast MHCs in the gluteus medius than poor performers (P < 0.05). This muscular analysis could be one of the interesting physiological traits to measure for early selection of gallop racing and show jumping horses.
Publication Date: 2000-02-05 PubMed ID: 10659270DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05236.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Animal Studies
- Arabian Horses
- Athletic Performance
- Biopsy
- Correlation Analysis
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Equestrian Sports
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Genetics
- Heritability
- Horse Breeds
- Horse Racing
- Horses
- Muscle Fiber Types
- Musculoskeletal System
- Performance Horses
- Physiology
- Showjumping
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article investigates the heritability of fast myosin heavy chains in the skeletal muscles of horses and how this impacts their performance in gallop racing and show jumping.
Research Goals and Methodology
- The research aimed to identify the percentage of fast myosin heavy chains (MHCs), specifically MHC 2A and MHC 2B, in two muscles essential for propulsion in horses: the gluteus medius and the biceps femoris.
- These values were obtained from muscle biopsies taken from 100 related French Anglo-Arabian horses.
- To determine the values, an ELISA technique, generally used for detecting and quantifying substances such as peptides and proteins, was employed.
Results of the Study
- The findings revealed the heritability of fast MHCs in these horses was estimated to be around 13%. This means that there is a 13% probability that the traits for fast MHCs will be passed on from parent to offspring.
- The research also demonstrated a significant correlation between the horses’ performance in gallop racing and show jumping and the percentage of fast MHCs present.
- The horses that performed better in gallop racing and show jumping had a higher percentage of fast MHCs in the gluteus medius muscle compared to the lower-performing horses.
Implications of the Findings
- When taking into account the heritability factor and the performance correlations, the study’s findings suggest that the percentage of fast MHCs could serve as a valuable physiological trait for the early selection of racing and jumping horses.
- The research, thus, provides a potential biological factor to be further explored in breeding programs and horse selection in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Barrey E, Valette JP, Jouglin M, Blouin C, Langlois B.
(2000).
Heritability of percentage of fast myosin heavy chains in skeletal muscles and relationship with performance.
Equine Vet J Suppl(30), 289-292.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05236.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- INRA, Station de Génétique Quantitative et Appliquée, Groupe Cheval, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Biopsy
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / physiology
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Myosin Heavy Chains / genetics
- Myosin Heavy Chains / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- 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.
- Li C, White SH, Warren LK, Wohlgemuth SE. Effects of aging on mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle of American American Quarter Horses. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2016 Jul 1;121(1):299-311.
- Votion DM, Gnaiger E, Lemieux H, Mouithys-Mickalad A, Serteyn D. Physical fitness and mitochondrial respiratory capacity in horse skeletal muscle. PLoS One 2012;7(4):e34890.
- Hill EW, McGivney BA, Gu J, Whiston R, Machugh DE. A genome-wide SNP-association study confirms a sequence variant (g.66493737C>T) in the equine myostatin (MSTN) gene as the most powerful predictor of optimum racing distance for Thoroughbred racehorses. BMC Genomics 2010 Oct 11;11:552.
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