Abstract: In aged humans, low-intensity exercise increases mitochondrial density, function and oxidative capacity, decreases the prevalence of hybrid fibers, and increases lean muscle mass, but these adaptations have not been studied in aged horses. Effects of age and exercise training on muscle fiber type and size, satellite cell abundance, and mitochondrial volume density (citrate synthase activity; CS), function (cytochrome c oxidase activity; CCO), and integrative (per mg tissue) and intrinsic (per unit CS) oxidative capacities were evaluated in skeletal muscle from aged (n = 9; 22 ± 5 yr) and yearling (n = 8; 9.7 ± 0.7 mo) horses. Muscle was collected from the gluteus medius (GM) and triceps brachii at wk 0, 8, and 12 of exercise training. Data were analyzed using linear models with age, training, muscle, and all interactions as fixed effects. At wk 0, aged horses exhibited a lower percentage of type IIx (p = 0.0006) and greater percentage of hybrid IIa/x fibers (p = 0.002) in the GM, less satellite cells per type II fiber (p = 0.03), lesser integrative and intrinsic (p ≤ 0.04) CCO activities, lesser integrative oxidative phosphorylation capacity with complex I (PCI; p = 0.02) and maximal electron transfer system capacity (ECI+II; p = 0.06), and greater intrinsic PCI, ECI+II, and electron transfer system capacity with complex II (ECII; p ≤ 0.05) than young horses. The percentage of type IIx fibers increased (p < 0.0001) and of type IIa/x fibers decreased (p = 0.001) in the GM, and the number of satellite cells per type II fiber increased (p = 0.0006) in aged horses following exercise training. Conversely, the percentage of type IIa/x fibers increased (p ≤ 0.01) and of type IIx fibers decreased (p ≤ 0.002) in young horses. Integrative maximal oxidative capacity (p ≤ 0.02), ECI+II (p ≤ 0.07), and ECII (p = 0.0003) increased for both age groups from wk 0 to 12. Following exercise training, aged horses had a greater percentage of IIx (p ≤ 0.002) and lesser percentage of IIa/x fibers (p ≤ 0.07), and more satellite cells per type II fiber (p = 0.08) than young horses, but sustained lesser integrative and intrinsic CCO activities (p ≤ 0.04) and greater intrinsic PCI, ECI+II, and ECII (p ≤ 0.05). Exercise improved mitochondrial measures in young and aged horses; however, aged horses showed impaired mitochondrial function and differences in adaptation to exercise training.
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The research investigated the impact of exercise training on muscle fibers and mitochondrial function in both young and aged horses. It found that although exercise improved the condition of both, older horses displayed less mitochondrial functionality and a differing adaptation to physical training compared to younger horses.
Age and Exercise Training Effects on Muscle Fiber and Mitochondrial Function
The study attempted to understand how age and exercise training affect horse muscle fibers (specifically type IIx and IIa/x) and the function and volume density of mitochondria.
The research sampled muscle tissues from two different horse muscle groups – gluteus medius (GM) and triceps brachii, across three periods; week 0, 8, and 12 of exercise training conducted routinely on a group of aged (22 ± 5 years) and young (9.7 ± 0.7 months) horses.
Comparative Analysis Before and After Training
Before the commencement of the training program, the aged horses exhibited fewer type IIx fibers and more of hybrid IIa/x fibers in the GM. They also had less satellite cells per type II fiber and lower integrative oxidative phosphorylation capacity.
Following the 12-week training, aged horses noted an increase in the percentage of type IIx fibers and satellite cells per type II fiber, and a decrease in type IIa/x fibers. Young horses, on the other hand, exhibited an increase in type IIa/x fibers and a decrease in IIx fibers.
Both young and aged horses were observed to have an increase in their Integrative maximal oxidative capacity. However, the study revealed that aged horses sustained lesser integrative and intrinsic CCO activities than young horses.
Implications of Findings
This study provided valuable insights into the age-related differences in muscle adaptations and mitochondrial function responses to aerobic exercise in horses.
The research results suggest an impaired mitochondrial function in aged horses when compared to young horses, despite regular exercise, which could limit the results seen from exercise-based muscle training and rehabilitation in older horses.
The observed differences in muscle fiber adaptation responses could be indicative of the varied exercise requirements and physical therapy/rehabilitation strategies needed between young and older horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Latham CM, Owen RN, Dickson EC, Guy CP, White-Springer SH.
(2021).
Skeletal Muscle Adaptations to Exercise Training in Young and Aged Horses.
Front Aging, 2, 708918.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fragi.2021.708918
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
Owen, Randi N
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
Dickson, Emily C
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
Guy, Chloey P
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
White-Springer, Sarah H
Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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