Metabolic response of equine muscle to intermittent maximal exercise.
Abstract: Four thoroughbred horses performed 4 gallops (G1-G4) with intervals of 5 min. With one exception, gallops were sustained at maximal speed over 620 m. Muscle biopsy samples of the middle gluteal and brachiocephalicus were taken before, during, and after exercise and assayed for ATP and intermediary metabolites. The results showed a major involvement of the brachiocephalicus, in addition to the middle gluteal, during galloping. In three horses, who were clearly fatigued, muscle ATP decreased by up to 50% by the end of G4. This was matched by an equal rise in inosine 5'-monophosphate. Pronounced accumulations of glycerol 3-phosphate, glycerol, and lactate (up to 204 mmol X kg dry muscle-1) occurred with exercise. In the fourth horse, which was less fatigued, a decrease in ATP and increases in intermediary metabolites were much less. Postexercise there was little or no recovery in muscle ATP or lactate during 30 min. The decreases in ATP are consistent with a high activity of adenosine 5'-monophosphate deaminase in horse muscle and indicative also of the high level of anaerobic stress of the exercise program. There was evidence to suggest that the increase in muscle glycerol resulted from hydrolysis of glycerol 3-phosphate and not from the utilization of triglyceride.
Publication Date: 1985-05-01 PubMed ID: 3997731DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1985.58.5.1689Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research conducted a detailed study on the metabolic responses in horse muscles during intermittent intense exercise. The study showed how the rapid exertion lesads to a decrease in ATP, and a rise in other intermediary metabolites in muscle tissues.
Methodology of the Study
- Four thoroughbred horses were asked to perform four intermittent maximal gallops over a distance of 620m, with a rest period of 5 minutes in between each session.
- Muscle biopsy samples were taken from two different muscle groups – the middle gluteal muscle (located in the rear) and the brachiocephalicus muscle (located in the upper body) during three instances – before the exercise, during the galloping, and after the galloping.
- The biopsy samples were assayed for ATP (Adenosine triphosphate – the main energy store of the cell), and other intermediary metabolites that are involved in energy metabolism.
Findings of the Study
- Both the middle gluteal and the brachiocephalicus muscles were significantly involved during galloping, and there was a marked dip in the muscle ATP levels up to 50% by the end of the fourth gallop in three out of the four horses. The decrease was mirrored by an equal rise in inosine 5′-monophosphate – a product of the breakdown of ATP.
- There were significant accumulations of metabolic byproducts – glycerol 3-phosphate, glycerol, and lactate during exercise. The fourth horse showed less fatigue and had less decrease in ATP and intermediary metabolites.
- Even after resting for 30 minutes after exercise, there was no reset in the ATP or lactate levels.
Significance of the Findings
- The study underlines the high activity of the enzyme adenosine 5′-monophosphate deaminase in horse muscles, which is responsible for converting ATP to inosine monophosphate, a less effective energy store.
- The rise in muscle glycerol was not due to the breakdown of triglycerides, but due to the hydrolysis of glycerol 3-phosphate.
- The results are indicative of the high level of anaerobic stress horses are subjected to during intense exercises like galloping.
Cite This Article
APA
Snow DH, Harris RC, Gash SP.
(1985).
Metabolic response of equine muscle to intermittent maximal exercise.
J Appl Physiol (1985), 58(5), 1689-1697.
https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1985.58.5.1689 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
- Animals
- Glycerol / metabolism
- Glycerophosphates / metabolism
- Glycogen / metabolism
- Horses / metabolism
- Inosine Monophosphate / metabolism
- Lactates / metabolism
- Lactic Acid
- Muscles / metabolism
- Physical Exertion
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Tabozzi SA, Stancari G, Zucca E, Tajoli M, Stucchi L, Lafortuna CL, Ferrucci F. Variation of skeletal muscle ultrasound imaging intensity in horses after treadmill exercise: a proof of concept for glycogen content estimation.. BMC Vet Res 2021 Mar 16;17(1):121.
- Klein DJ, McKeever KH, Mirek ET, Anthony TG. Metabolomic Response of Equine Skeletal Muscle to Acute Fatiguing Exercise and Training.. Front Physiol 2020;11:110.
- Wilk I, Wnuk-Pawlak E, Janczarek I, Kaczmarek B, Dybczyńska M, Przetacznik M. Distribution of Superficial Body Temperature in Horses Ridden by Two Riders with Varied Body Weights.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 21;10(2).
- Farries G, Bryan K, McGivney CL, McGettigan PA, Gough KF, Browne JA, MacHugh DE, Katz LM, Hill EW. Expression Quantitative Trait Loci in Equine Skeletal Muscle Reveals Heritable Variation in Metabolism and the Training Responsive Transcriptome.. Front Genet 2019;10:1215.
- Williams CL, Sato K, Shiomi K, Ponganis PJ. Muscle energy stores and stroke rates of emperor penguins: implications for muscle metabolism and dive performance.. Physiol Biochem Zool 2012 Mar-Apr;85(2):120-33.
- Alberghina D, Piccione G, Amorini AM, D'Urso S, Longo S, Picardi M, Tavazzi B, Lazzarino G. Modulation of circulating purines and pyrimidines by physical exercise in the horse.. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011 Mar;111(3):549-56.
- Pösö AR. Monocarboxylate transporters and lactate metabolism in equine athletes: a review.. Acta Vet Scand 2002;43(2):63-74.
- Sewell DA, Gleeson M, Blannin AK. Hyperammonaemia in relation to high-intensity exercise duration in man.. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1994;69(4):350-4.
- Foster CV, Harris RC. Formation of acetylcarnitine in muscle of horse during high intensity exercise.. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1987;56(6):639-42.
- Harris RC, Foster CV. Changes in muscle free carnitine and acetylcarnitine with increasing work intensity in the Thoroughbred horse.. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1990;60(2):81-5.
- Abernethy PJ, Thayer R, Taylor AW. Acute and chronic responses of skeletal muscle to endurance and sprint exercise. A review.. Sports Med 1990 Dec;10(6):365-89.
- Harris RC, Marlin DJ, Snow DH, Harkness RA. Muscle ATP loss and lactate accumulation at different work intensities in the exercising Thoroughbred horse.. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1991;62(4):235-44.
- Dauncey MJ, Blaxter KL. Muscular activity and energy expenditure: biochemistry and physiology of exercising muscle. A report of The Rank Prize Funds Mini-Symposium 1990.. Br J Sports Med 1991 Mar;25(1):2-3.
- Greenhaff PL, Leiper JB, Ball D, Maughan RJ. The influence of dietary manipulation on plasma ammonia accumulation during incremental exercise in man.. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1991;63(5):338-44.
- Greenhaff PL, Harris RC, Snow DH, Sewell DA, Dunnett M. The influence of metabolic alkalosis upon exercise metabolism in the thoroughbred horse.. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1991;63(2):129-34.
- Sewell DA, Harris RC. Adenine nucleotide degradation in the thoroughbred horse with increasing exercise duration.. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1992;65(3):271-7.
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