Muscle adaptation of Thoroughbred racehorses trained on a flat or sloped track.
Abstract: To determine histochemical and biochemical properties of muscle during adaptation to training on a flat or sloped track. Methods: 22 Thoroughbreds. Methods: Samples were obtained from the middle gluteus muscle before and after training programs were conducted, using a needle-biopsy technique. Training programs consisted of horses running 1,600 m on a flat or sloped track for 16 weeks. Amplitude of middle gluteus muscle activity per burst was calculated. Muscle fiber composition and area were examined on serial cross sections processed by standard histochemical staining procedures (ATPase stain after prior incubation with an acid or base, followed by succinate dehydrogenase [SDH] stain). Furthermore, SDH and phosphofructokinase activities were determined biochemically, and composition of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms was analyzed electrophoretically. Results: Training resulted in substantial adaptations. Relative contribution of muscle fiber with high SDH activity (type-I and -IIa fibers) to total cross-sectional area, SDH activity, and composition of MHC-IIa isoforms were increased. Gel electrophoresis revealed a large amount of MHC-IIx isoform and a small amount of MHC-IIb isoform in the muscle. Although root mean square of muscle activity for training on a sloped track was 7.6% higher than the value obtained while training on a flat track, muscle histochemical and biochemical properties did not differ significantly between groups training on flat and sloped tracks. Conclusions: Training adaptations for contractile and metabolic properties of the middle gluteus muscle were evident for the 2 types of training. However, training adaptations did not differ significantly between groups trained on flat or sloped tracks.
Publication Date: 2000-01-06 PubMed ID: 10622164
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper is an exploration of how muscle adaptations occur in Thoroughbred racehorses based on their training environment – either a flat or sloped track. The research collected and analyzed data from muscle fiber composition, muscle activity, and biochemical processes of the horse’s middle gluteus muscle to examine these adaptations.
Methods
- The study involved 22 Thoroughbred racehorses.
- A middle gluteus muscle sample was obtained from each horse before and after the training program, using a needle-biopsy technique.
- The training program lasted for 16 weeks, and each horse had to run 1,600 meters on either a flat or sloping track.
- The researchers calculated the amplitude of middle gluteus muscle activity per burst for each horse.
- The horse’s muscle fiber composition and area were examined through histochemical staining procedures.
- The activities of biochemical enzymes, namely succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and phosphofructokinase, were determined.
- An electrophoresis method was used to analyze the composition of the myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in the muscles.
Results
- The study found that training provoked significant muscle adaptations in the racehorses.
- The contribution of muscle fiber with high SDH activity (type-I and -IIa fibers) to the overall cross-sectional area enhanced, along with an increase in SDH activity and composition of MHC-IIa isoforms.
- The gel electrophoresis method revealed a large amount of MHC-IIx isoform and a small quantity of MHC-IIb isoform in the muscle.
- Training on a sloped track resulted in a 7.6% higher root mean square of muscle activity than training on a flat track.
- However, the muscle histochemical and biochemical properties were almost similar in both groups irrespective of whether they trained on a flat or sloped track.
Conclusions
- Contractile and metabolic properties of the middle gluteus muscle showed evident adaptations to the two types of training.
- The study concluded that there were no significant differences in training adaptations between horses trained on flat or sloped tracks.
Cite This Article
APA
Miyata H, Sugiura T, Kai M, Hiraga A, Tokuriki M.
(2000).
Muscle adaptation of Thoroughbred racehorses trained on a flat or sloped track.
Am J Vet Res, 60(12), 1536-1539.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Adaptation, Physiological
- Animals
- Biopsy, Needle
- Electromyography
- Horses / physiology
- Isoenzymes / metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Myosin Heavy Chains / metabolism
- Phosphofructokinase-1 / metabolism
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Succinate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Hiraga A, Sugano S. Studies on exercise physiology and performance testing of racehorses performed in Japan during the 1930s using recovery rate as an index. J Equine Sci 2016;27(4):131-142.
- Chanda M, Srikuea R, Cherdchutam W, Chairoungdua A, Piyachaturawat P. Modulating effects of exercise training regimen on skeletal muscle properties in female polo ponies. BMC Vet Res 2016 Nov 4;12(1):245.
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