Serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP concentration in young exercising thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: Bone responds to exercise with changes in bone (re-)modelling, which might be monitored non-invasively with biochemical bone markers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of exercise on serum osteocalcin and serum carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen generated by matrix metalloproteinases (CTX-MMP) concentration in young racehorses. Seventy-one 2 to 4-year-old Thoroughbreds were included in this prospective infield study. Blood sampling was performed six times (i.e. six sampling cycles) during a 9-month period. Serum samples were analysed with commercial osteocalcin and CTX-MMP radioimmunoassays. Two-year-old racehorses had higher serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP values than 3-year-old horses. Gender and training amplitude did not significantly influence serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP values. Two-year-old horses showed an increase in osteocalcin values between cycles 2 and 3 and an increase in serum CTX-MMP values between cycles 1 and 2. Serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP concentrations decreased between cycles 4 and 5, and 5 and 6. Three-year-old horses showed an increase in serum osteocalcin levels between cycles 3 and 4 and an increase in serum CTX-MMP concentrations between cycles 1 and 2, and 3 and 4. Serum osteocalcin levels decreased between cycles 5 and 6, whereas serum CTX-MMP levels decreased between cycles 4 and 5, and 5 and 6. Two- and three-year-old horses showed a decreased osteocalcin/CTX-MMP ratio between cycles 1 and 2. Moreover, 2-year-old horses showed an increase in the osteocalcin/CTX-MMP ratio between cycles 2 and 3. Sore shin formation did not significantly influence serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP values. Serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP are promising bone markers for monitoring exercise induced changes in equine bone metabolism.
Publication Date: 2005-04-20 PubMed ID: 15836441DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00704.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study explores the response of young racing thoroughbreds’ bone metabolism to exercise, analyzing changes in certain markers in the blood. The two biological markers studied, osteocalcin and CTX-MMP, showed fluctuation throughout various stages of a nine-month training period. These markers could potentially serve as tools for steering the health and training management of professional sport horses.
Purpose of the Study
- The research aimed to investigate the influence of physical exercise on serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP (carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen generated by matrix metalloproteinases) levels in young thoroughbred racehorses.
- This was conducted to monitor changes in bone metabolism through non-invasive means, potentially assisting in effective training and health management of professional sport horses.
Research Methodology
- Seventy-one thoroughbred racehorses aged between 2 and 4 years old were involved.
- Blood samples were taken from each horse six times across a period of nine months, with the samples being analyzed using commercial osteocalcin and CTX-MMP radioimmunoassays.
- Age, gender, and the intensity of training were controlled parameters introduced into the study.
Key Findings
- The two-year-old horses had higher osteocalcin and CTX-MMP levels than their three-year-old counterparts.
- There were consistent increases in osteocalcin and CTX-MMP levels during the early stages of the sampling cycles for both age groups, while these levels fell in the later stages.
- Training intensity and gender appeared not to have a significant impact on the levels of osteocalcin and CTX-MMP.
- Slight variations in osteocalcin/CTX-MMP ratios were observed throughout the training period, but the presence of sore shins did not significantly influence the levels of these bone metabolism markers.
Conclusion
- Serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP proved responsive to physical exercise, with their blood concentrations fluctuating in response to the training progression of the young racehorses.
- This suggests potential applicability of these markers to non-invasive monitoring of changes in equine bone metabolism due to exercise – a potentially invaluable tool in athletic horse care and training.
Cite This Article
APA
Carstanjen B, Amory H, Sulon J, Hars O, Remy B, Langlois P, Lepage OM.
(2005).
Serum osteocalcin and CTX-MMP concentration in young exercising thoroughbred racehorses.
J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med, 52(3), 114-120.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00704.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Belgium. bcarstanjen@vet-alfort.fr
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Bone and Bones / metabolism
- Collagen / blood
- Collagen Type I
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Male
- Matrix Metalloproteinases / metabolism
- Osteocalcin / blood
- Peptides / blood
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Prospective Studies
- Radioimmunoassay / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Schubert DC, Neustädter LT, Coenen M, Visscher C, Kamphues J. Investigations on the Effects of Different Calcium Supply Exceeding the Requirements on Mineral Serum Concentrations and Bone Metabolism in Young Warmblood Stallions. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 19;11(8).
- Saeki K, Hilton JF, Alliston T, Habelitz S, Marshall SJ, Marshall GW, Denbesten P. Elevated TGF-beta2 signaling in dentin results in sex related enamel defects. Arch Oral Biol 2007 Sep;52(9):814-21.
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