Muscle satellite cells are activated after exercise to exhaustion in Thoroughbred horses.
Abstract: Although satellite cells are well known as muscle stem cells capable of adding myonuclei during muscle repair and hypertrophy, the response of satellite cells in horse muscles to a run to exhaustion is still unknown. Objective: To investigate the time course of satellite cell activation in Thoroughbred horse muscle after running to exhaustion. We hypothesised that this type of intense exercise would induce satellite cell activation in skeletal muscle similar to a resistance exercise. Methods: Nine de-trained Thoroughbred horses (6 geldings and 3 mares) aged 3-6 years were studied. Biopsy samples were taken from the gluteus medius muscle of the horses before and 1 min, 3 h, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week and 2 weeks after a treadmill run to exhaustion. The numbers of satellite cells for each fibre type were determined by using immunofluorescence staining. Total RNA was extracted from these samples, and the expressions of interleukin (IL)-6, paired box transcriptional factor (Pax) 7, myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD), myogenin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA were analysed using real-time reverse transcription-PCR. Results: The numbers of satellite cells were significantly increased in type I and IIa fibres at 1 week and in type IIa/x fibre at 2 weeks post exercise. The expression of IL-6 mRNA increased significantly by 3 h post exercise. The expression of PCNA mRNA also increased by 1 day after running, indicating that running can initiate satellite cell proliferation. The expression of Pax7, MyoD, myogenin, IGF-I and HGF mRNA peaked at 1 week post exercise. Conclusions: Satellite cell activation and proliferation could be enhanced after a run to exhaustion without detectable injury as assessed by the histochemical analysis. Understanding the response of satellite cell activation to running exercise provides fundamental information about the skeletal muscle adaptation in Thoroughbred horses.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2012-12-04 PubMed ID: 23206314DOI: 10.1111/evj.12010Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research explores how the activation of muscle satellite cells occurs in Thoroughbred horses after they run until exhaustion. The findings suggest that this intense physical activity can trigger the activation and proliferation of satellite cells, just like in resistance exercises, even absent muscle injuries.
Objective and Hypothesis
- The primary goal of this study was to examine the activation of muscle satellite cells in Thoroughbred horses following exhaustive exercise.
- The researchers hypothesized that extreme exercise would result in the activation of satellite cells in the skeletal muscles of horses in a manner comparable to resistance exercise.
Methodology
- Nine de-trained Thoroughbred horses aged 3-6 years, both geldings and mares, were examined.
- The gluteus medius muscle in the horses was biopsied at various intervals following a treadmill run to the point of exhaustion.
- Immunofluorescence staining was used to ascertain the number of satellite cells for each type of fibre.
- The expressions of IL-6, Pax7, MyoD, myogenin, PCNA, IGF-I and HGF mRNA were analyzed using real-time reverse transcription-PCR after extracting total RNA from biopsy samples.
Findings
- The quantity of satellite cells in type I and IIa fibres increased significantly one week after the exercise, and in type IIa/x fibres two weeks post-exercise.
- Notably, IL-6 mRNA expression increased significantly within 3 hours of exercise and the expression of PCNA mRNA also increased one day after running, suggesting that intense exercise can stimulate the proliferation of satellite cells.
- Other mRNA elements like Pax7, MyoD, myogenin, IGF-I and HGF hit their peak expression one week after the exercise.
- Despite the absence of noticeable damage as judged by histochemical analysis, muscle satellite cell activation and proliferation increased after exhaustive running.
Conclusion
- The researchers conclude that extreme exercise triggers satellite cell activation and proliferation without the need for apparent muscle injury.
- These findings provide essential insights into how Thoroughbred horses’ skeletal muscles adapt to intense physical activity, which could help in optimizing equine athletic performance and well-being.
Cite This Article
APA
Kawai M, Aida H, Hiraga A, Miyata H.
(2012).
Muscle satellite cells are activated after exercise to exhaustion in Thoroughbred horses.
Equine Vet J, 45(4), 512-517.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12010 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Muscle Fatigue / physiology
- Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / cytology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- RNA, Messenger / genetics
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Johnson SE, Barshick MR, Gonzalez ML, Riley JW, Pelletier ME, Castanho BC, Ealy EN. A Carnitine-Containing Product Improves Aspects of Post-Exercise Recovery in Adult Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 14;13(4).
- Budsuren U, Ulaangerel T, Shen Y, Liu G, Davshilt T, Yi M, Bold D, Zhang X, Bai D, Dorjgotov D, Davaakhuu G, Jambal T, Li B, Du M, Dugarjav M, Bou G. MSTN Regulatory Network in Mongolian Horse Muscle Satellite Cells Revealed with miRNA Interference Technologies. Genes (Basel) 2022 Oct 11;13(10).
- Barshick MR, Gonzalez ML, Busse NI, Helsel PJ, Johnson SE. The initial delay to mitotic activity in primary cultures of equine satellite cells is reduced by combinations of growth factors. J Anim Sci 2022 Aug 1;100(8).
- Latham CM, Owen RN, Dickson EC, Guy CP, White-Springer SH. Skeletal Muscle Adaptations to Exercise Training in Young and Aged Horses. Front Aging 2021;2:708918.
- Gonzalez ML, Busse NI, Waits CM, Johnson SE. Satellite cells and their regulation in livestock. J Anim Sci 2020 May 1;98(5).
- Gonzalez ML, Jacobs RD, Ely KM, Johnson SE. Dietary tributyrin supplementation and submaximal exercise promote activation of equine satellite cells. J Anim Sci 2019 Dec 17;97(12):4951-4956.
- Brandt AM, Kania JM, Gonzalez ML, Johnson SE. Hepatocyte growth factor acts as a mitogen for equine satellite cells via protein kinase C δ-directed signaling. J Anim Sci 2018 Sep 7;96(9):3645-3656.
- DeBoer ML, Martinson KM, Pampusch MS, Hansen AM, Wells SM, Ward C, Hathaway M. Cultured equine satellite cells as a model system to assess leucine stimulated protein synthesis in horse muscle. J Anim Sci 2018 Feb 15;96(1):143-153.
- Miyata H, Itoh R, Sato F, Takebe N, Hada T, Tozaki T. Effect of Myostatin SNP on muscle fiber properties in male Thoroughbred horses during training period. J Physiol Sci 2018 Sep;68(5):639-646.
- Fukuda K, Miyata H, Kuwano A, Kuroda T, Tamura N, Kotoyori Y, Kasashima Y. Does the injection of platelet-rich plasma induce changes in the gene expression and morphology of intact Thoroughbred skeletal muscle?. J Equine Sci 2017;28(2):31-39.
- 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.
- Nagahisa H, Mukai K, Ohmura H, Takahashi T, Miyata H. Effect of High-Intensity Training in Normobaric Hypoxia on Thoroughbred Skeletal Muscle. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2016;2016:1535367.
- Imaoka Y, Kawai M, Mori F, Miyata H. Effect of eccentric contraction on satellite cell activation in human vastus lateralis muscle. J Physiol Sci 2015 Sep;65(5):461-9.
- Witkowska-Piłaszewicz O, Nowicka-Kazmierczak M, Pietrzak P, Marycz K. Mitohormesis and Regeneration: Natural Compounds Chlorogenic Acid (CGA) and Isovanillic Acid 3-O-sulfate (IVAS) Boost Muscle Cell Recovery in the Equine Athlete Model. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2025 Nov;21(8):2654-2666.
- Takahashi K, Mukai K, Takahashi Y, Ebisuda Y, Hatta H, Kitaoka Y. Metabolomic responses to high-intensity interval exercise in equine skeletal muscle: effects of rest interval duration. J Exp Biol 2024 Feb 15;227(4).
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