Muscle biopsy index for discriminating between endurance horses with different performance records.
Abstract: Biopsies were taken from three different depths of the gluteus medius muscle of 36 endurance horses aged between four and 17 years. Twenty of the horses were considered excellent performers according to their three fastest records in endurance events over the previous two or three years. The other 16 horses were moderate performers, with a mean racing speed < 3.5 ms-1 (in 120 to 180 km endurance rides), < 4.0 ms-1 (in 80 to 120 km endurance rides) or < 3.75 ms-1 (in 40 to 60 km endurance rides). The biopsy specimens were analysed for fibre type distribution (type I, IIA and IIB), fibre area and relative fibre area. The activities of the enzymes citrate synthase, 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were also determined. The data were subjected to discriminant analysis and principal component analysis. It was possible to discriminate correctly between the horses according to their performance records by means of the discriminant analyses when the histochemical and morphometric data from all three muscle biopsies were used, but not when data from only a single muscle biopsy were used. Principal component analysis confirmed that the most efficient muscle parameters describing the athletic potential of endurance horses were the percentages and relative areas of the fibre types. Horses with a better endurance performance had higher percentages and relative areas of types I and IIA fibres and lower percentages and relative areas of type IIB fibres than moderate performers.
Publication Date: 1996-07-01 PubMed ID: 8819194DOI: 10.1016/s0034-5288(96)90110-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper focuses on the use of muscle biopsies to evaluate the performance of endurance horses, discovering that horses with a superior performance history have different muscle fibre composition.
Research Methodology
- The researchers carried out biopsies on the gluteus medius muscle of 36 endurance horses that were aged between four and 17 years.
- These horses were divided into two groups based on their performance records in endurance events during the preceding two or three years: 20 horses were regarded as excellent performers while the remaining 16 were thought of as moderate performers.
- The performance was determined by racing speed common to different endurance ride lengths.
Analysis of Biopsy Specimens
- The biopsy specimens were then analysed for fibre type distribution, i.e., type I, IIA and IIB fibres, their relative area and individual fibre area.
- The team also measured the activity levels of three enzymes — citrate synthase, 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA-dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase — in the samples.
Data Analysis
- The acquired data from these various measurements and analyses were subjected to discriminant analysis and principal component analysis to draw meaningful conclusions.
- The researchers discovered that it was possible to correctly categorise the horses according to their performance records using the discriminant analyses only when they utilised data from all three muscle biopsies. Notably, using data from only a single biopsy would not yield an accurate categorisation.
Key Findings
- Principal component analysis confirmed that percentage and relative areas of different fibre types were the most efficient parameters to describe the athletic potential of endurance horses.
- Last but not least, the team found a correlation between better performance and higher percentages of type I and IIA fibres, alongside lower percentages of type IIB fibres. Thus, excellent performers had a greater proportion of type I and IIA fibres, and a lower proportion of type IIB fibres compared to the moderate performers.
Cite This Article
APA
Rivero JL, Henckel P.
(1996).
Muscle biopsy index for discriminating between endurance horses with different performance records.
Res Vet Sci, 61(1), 49-54.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0034-5288(96)90110-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Comparative Anatomy and Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Cordoba, Spain.
MeSH Terms
- 3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / analysis
- Animals
- Biomarkers
- Biopsy
- Citrate (si)-Synthase / analysis
- Discriminant Analysis
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / analysis
- Male
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / cytology
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / physiology
- Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Orchiectomy
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Retrospective Studies
- Species Specificity
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- 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.
- Crook TC, Cruickshank SE, McGowan CM, Stubbs N, Wakeling JM, Wilson AM, Payne RC. Comparative anatomy and muscle architecture of selected hind limb muscles in the Quarter Horse and Arab. J Anat 2008 Feb;212(2):144-52.
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