FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Scientific reports2017; 7(1); 14389; doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-14691-4

Submaximal exercise training improves mitochondrial efficiency in the gluteus medius but not in the triceps brachii of young equine athletes.

Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that, similar to humans and rodents, exercise training would enhance mitochondrial (Mt) biogenesis and function in skeletal muscle of young horses. Twenty-four Quarter Horse yearlings were randomly assigned to either submaximal exercise training or no forced exercise (untrained). Biopsies were collected from the gluteus medius and triceps brachii before and after 9 wk of treatment. Citrate synthase activity was lower (P < 0.0001) and cytochrome c oxidase activity per Mt unit was higher (P < 0.0001) in gluteus compared to triceps, but neither changed over the trial period. From wk 0 to 9, intrinsic Mt respiration (P , P ; P = 0.008) and electron transport capacity (E ; P = 0.01) increased, and LEAK-related flux control factor (FCF; P = 0.02) decreased in both muscles. After 9 wk of training, gluteus muscle exhibited higher (P < 0.05) intrinsic P , P , E , and FCF and FCF , and lower FCF (P = 0.0002). Mitochondrial content did not change from wk 0 to 9, and also not in response to submaximal exercise training. Improvements in Mt function were most directly related to ongoing growth of horses independent of muscle group, and training further enhanced Mt function in the gluteus medius.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2017-10-30 PubMed ID: 29085004PubMed Central: PMC5662757DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14691-4Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study investigates whether submaximal exercise training enhances mitochondrial performance in the skeletal muscle of young horses, similar to humans and rodents. The research found that such exercise improved mitochondrial efficiency in the gluteus medius (hindquarter muscle), but not in the triceps brachii (forelimb muscle), with any enhancements largely linked to natural horse growth, not necessarily the training.

Methodology

  • The researchers utilized 24 Quarter Horse yearlings. These were randomly assigned to two groups: those undergoing submaximal exercise training and those without any forced exercise (untrained).
  • The team took muscle biopsies from the gluteus medius and triceps brachii of the horses before and after a nine-week treatment period.

Findings

  • The study showed that the activity of citrate synthase, an enzyme critical for energy production in mitochondria, was lower in the gluteus than in the triceps. However, this activity didn’t change over the trial period in either muscle.
  • Meanwhile, the activity of cytochrome c oxidase, another key enzyme involved in mitochondrial energy production, per mitochondrial unit was higher in the gluteus than in the triceps. Again, this metric didn’t change over the nine weeks in either muscle group.
  • From the start to the end of the trial, the study observed increases in intrinsic mitochondrial respiration and electron transport capacity in both muscles. These parameters indicate the efficiency of the mitochondria in producing energy.
  • Conversely, the LEAK-related flux control factor (FCF), a measure of energy wastage, decreased in both muscles over the trial period.
  • After the nine weeks of submaximal exercise training, the gluteus medius showcased increased intrinsic mitochondrial respiration, electron transport capacity, and FCF, while showing decreased LEAK FCF compared to the triceps brachii.
  • Importantly, the study found that the mitochondrial content remained consistent from week 0 to week 9, and in response to the submaximal exercise training.

Implications

  • The study’s findings suggest that the improvements in mitochondrial function originated from the natural growth of the horses, regardless of muscle group, while the submaximal exercise training further enhanced the mitochondrial function specifically in the gluteus medius.
  • These findings imply that similar benefits likely occur in humans and rodents, mirroring previous studies that have highlighted submaximal exercise training’s effectiveness in improving mitochondrial efficiency.

Cite This Article

APA
White SH, Warren LK, Li C, Wohlgemuth SE. (2017). Submaximal exercise training improves mitochondrial efficiency in the gluteus medius but not in the triceps brachii of young equine athletes. Sci Rep, 7(1), 14389. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14691-4

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Pages: 14389
PII: 14389

Researcher Affiliations

White, Sarah H
  • Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
  • Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA.
Warren, Lori K
  • Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
Li, Chengcheng
  • Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
Wohlgemuth, Stephanie E
  • Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA. steffiw@ufl.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Athletes
  • Buttocks
  • Electron Transport
  • Female
  • Forelimb
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Organelle Biogenesis
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / methods
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Thigh

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

This article includes 35 references
  1. Wright DC, Han DH, Garcia-Roves PM, Geiger PC, Jones TE, Holloszy JO. Exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis begins before the increase in muscle PGC-1alpha expression.. J Biol Chem 2007 Jan 5;282(1):194-9.
    doi: 10.1074/jbc.M606116200pubmed: 17099248google scholar: lookup
  2. Valberg, S. Muscle anatomy, physiology, and adaptations to exercise and training in The Athletic Horse: Principles and Practice of Equine Sports Medicine (eds Hodgson, D. R., McKeever, K. & McGowan, C. M.), 174–201 (Elsevier, 2014).
  3. Daussin FN, Rasseneur L, Bouitbir J, Charles AL, Dufour SP, Geny B, Burelle Y, Richard R. Different timing of changes in mitochondrial functions following endurance training.. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2012 Feb;44(2):217-24.
    doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822b0bd4pubmed: 21716149google scholar: lookup
  4. Pesta D, Hoppel F, Macek C, Messner H, Faulhaber M, Kobel C, Parson W, Burtscher M, Schocke M, Gnaiger E. Similar qualitative and quantitative changes of mitochondrial respiration following strength and endurance training in normoxia and hypoxia in sedentary humans.. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2011 Oct;301(4):R1078-87.
    doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00285.2011pubmed: 21775647google scholar: lookup
  5. Larsen S, Nielsen J, Hansen CN, Nielsen LB, Wibrand F, Stride N, Schroder HD, Boushel R, Helge JW, Dela F, Hey-Mogensen M. Biomarkers of mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle of healthy young human subjects.. J Physiol 2012 Jul 15;590(14):3349-60.
    doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.230185pmc: PMC3459047pubmed: 22586215google scholar: lookup
  6. Tyler CM, Golland LC, Evans DL, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ. Skeletal muscle adaptations to prolonged training, overtraining and detraining in horses.. Pflugers Arch 1998 Aug;436(3):391-7.
    doi: 10.1007/s004240050648pubmed: 9644221google scholar: lookup
  7. Valberg S, Essén Gustavsson B, Skoglund Wallberg H. Oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle fibres in racehorses: histochemical versus biochemical analysis.. Equine Vet J 1988 Jul;20(4):291-5.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1988.tb01527.xpubmed: 3168990google scholar: lookup
  8. Li C, White SH, Warren LK, Wohlgemuth SE. Effects of aging on mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle of American American Quarter Horses.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2016 Jul 1;121(1):299-311.
    doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01077.2015pmc: PMC5040552pubmed: 27283918google scholar: lookup
  9. van den Hoven R, Wensing T, Breukink HJ, Meijer AE, Kruip TA. Variation of fiber types in the triceps brachii, longissimus dorsi, gluteus medius, and biceps femoris of horses.. Am J Vet Res 1985 Apr;46(4):939-41.
    pubmed: 4014843
  10. Andrews FM, Spurgeon TL. Histochemical staining characteristics of normal horse skeletal muscle.. Am J Vet Res 1986 Aug;47(8):1843-52.
    pubmed: 3752694
  11. Kline KH, Bechtel PJ. Changes in the metabolic profile of the equine gluteus medius as a function of sampling depth.. Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol 1988;91(4):815-9.
    doi: 10.1016/0300-9629(88)90969-3pubmed: 2907449google scholar: lookup
  12. Hood DA. Mechanisms of exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle.. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2009 Jun;34(3):465-72.
    doi: 10.1139/H09-045pubmed: 19448716google scholar: lookup
  13. Ronéus M, Essén-Gustavsson B, Lindholm A, Persson SG. Skeletal muscle characteristics in young trained and untrained standardbred trotters.. Equine Vet J 1992 Jul;24(4):292-4.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02838.xpubmed: 1499537google scholar: lookup
  14. Henckel P. Training and growth induced changes in the middle gluteal muscle of young Standardbred trotters.. Equine Vet J 1983 Apr;15(2):134-40.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01736.xpubmed: 6873046google scholar: lookup
  15. Lindholm, A., Essen-Gustavsson, B., McMiken, D., Persson, S. & Thornton, J. R. Muscle histochemistry and biochemistry of Thoroughbred horses during growth and training in Equine Exercise Physiology. (eds Snow, D. H., Persson, S. G. & Rose, R. J.) 211–217 (Burlington, 1983).
  16. Essen-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A., McMiken, D., Persson, S. & Thornton, J. R. Skeletal muscle characteristics of young standardbreds in relation to growth and early training in Equine Exercise Physiology. (eds Snow, D. H., Persson, S. G. & Rose, R. J.) 200–210 (Burlington, 1983).
  17. White SH, Wohlgemuth S, Li C, Warren LK. Rapid Communication: Dietary selenium improves skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis in young equine athletes.. J Anim Sci 2017 Sep;95(9):4078-4084.
    pubmed: 28992020doi: 10.2527/jas2017.1919google scholar: lookup
  18. Vainshtein A, Tryon LD, Pauly M, Hood DA. Role of PGC-1α during acute exercise-induced autophagy and mitophagy in skeletal muscle.. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2015 May 1;308(9):C710-9.
    doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00380.2014pmc: PMC4420796pubmed: 25673772google scholar: lookup
  19. Serrano AL, Quiroz-Rothe E, Rivero JL. Early and long-term changes of equine skeletal muscle in response to endurance training and detraining.. Pflugers Arch 2000 Dec;441(2-3):263-74.
    doi: 10.1007/s004240000408pubmed: 11211112google scholar: lookup
  20. D’Angelis FHDF. Light exercise causes adaptive changes in muscles of young Brasileiro de Hipismo horses. Ciência Rural 2008;38:1313–1318.
    doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000500017google scholar: lookup
  21. Rivero JL. A scientific background for skeletal muscle conditioning in equine practice.. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2007 Aug;54(6):321-32.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2007.00947.xpubmed: 17650153google scholar: lookup
  22. Hood DA. Invited Review: contractile activity-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2001 Mar;90(3):1137-57.
    pubmed: 11181630doi: 10.1152/jappl.2001.90.3.1137google scholar: lookup
  23. Picard M, Hepple RT, Burelle Y. Mitochondrial functional specialization in glycolytic and oxidative muscle fibers: tailoring the organelle for optimal function.. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2012 Feb 15;302(4):C629-41.
    doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00368.2011pubmed: 22031602google scholar: lookup
  24. Jackman MR, Willis WT. Characteristics of mitochondria isolated from type I and type IIb skeletal muscle.. Am J Physiol 1996 Feb;270(2 Pt 1):C673-8.
    pubmed: 8779934doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1996.270.2.c673google scholar: lookup
  25. Jacobs RA, Díaz V, Meinild AK, Gassmann M, Lundby C. The C57Bl/6 mouse serves as a suitable model of human skeletal muscle mitochondrial function.. Exp Physiol 2013 Apr;98(4):908-21.
    doi: 10.1113/expphysiol.2012.070037pubmed: 23180810google scholar: lookup
  26. White SH, Warren LK. Submaximal exercise training, more than dietary selenium supplementation, improves antioxidant status and ameliorates exercise-induced oxidative damage to skeletal muscle in young equine athletes.. J Anim Sci 2017 Feb 1;95(2):657-670.
    doi: 10.2527/jas2017.1919pubmed: 29432539google scholar: lookup
  27. Votion DM, Fraipont A, Goachet AG, Robert C, van Erck E, Amory H, Ceusters J, de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Franck T, Mouithys-Mickalad A, Niesten A, Serteyn D. Alterations in mitochondrial respiratory function in response to endurance training and endurance racing.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010 Nov;(38):268-74.
    pubmed: 21059017doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00271.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  28. 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.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034890pmc: PMC3329552pubmed: 22529950google scholar: lookup
  29. López-Rivero JL, Agüera E, Monterde JG, Rodríguez-Barbudo MV, Miró F. Comparative study of muscle fiber type composition in the middle gluteal muscle of andalusian, thoroughbred and arabian horses. J Equine Vet Sci 1989;9:337–340.
    doi: 10.1016/S0737-0806(89)80072-3google scholar: lookup
  30. Payne RC, Veenman P, Wilson AM. The role of the extrinsic thoracic limb muscles in equine locomotion.. J Anat 2004 Dec;205(6):479-90.
    doi: 10.1111/j.0021-8782.2004.00353.xpmc: PMC1571391pubmed: 15610395google scholar: lookup
  31. Haas RH, Parikh S, Falk MJ, Saneto RP, Wolf NI, Darin N, Wong LJ, Cohen BH, Naviaux RK. The in-depth evaluation of suspected mitochondrial disease.. Mol Genet Metab 2008 May;94(1):16-37.
    pmc: PMC2810849pubmed: 18243024doi: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2007.11.018google scholar: lookup
  32. NRC. Nutrient Requirements of Horses. 6th Revised Edition edn (National Academies Press, 2007).
  33. Spinazzi M, Casarin A, Pertegato V, Salviati L, Angelini C. Assessment of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymatic activities on tissues and cultured cells.. Nat Protoc 2012 May 31;7(6):1235-46.
    doi: 10.1038/nprot.2012.058pubmed: 22653162google scholar: lookup
  34. Delp MD, Duan C. Composition and size of type I, IIA, IID/X, and IIB fibers and citrate synthase activity of rat muscle.. J Appl Physiol (1985) 1996 Jan;80(1):261-70.
    pubmed: 8847313doi: 10.1152/jappl.1996.80.1.261google scholar: lookup
  35. Kuznetsov AV, Veksler V, Gellerich FN, Saks V, Margreiter R, Kunz WS. Analysis of mitochondrial function in situ in permeabilized muscle fibers, tissues and cells.. Nat Protoc 2008;3(6):965-76.
    doi: 10.1038/nprot.2008.61pubmed: 18536644google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
  1. Vidal Moreno de Vega C, Lemmens D, de Meeûs d'Argenteuil C, Boshuizen B, de Maré L, Leybaert L, Goethals K, de Oliveira JE, Hosotani G, Deforce D, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Devisscher L, Delesalle C. Dynamics of training and acute exercise-induced shifts in muscular glucose transporter (GLUT) 4, 8, and 12 expression in locomotion versus posture muscles in healthy horses. Front Physiol 2023;14:1256217.
    doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1256217pubmed: 37654675google scholar: lookup
  2. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13040657pubmed: 36830444google scholar: lookup
  3. Henry ML, Wesolowski LT, Pagan JD, Simons JL, Valberg SJ, White-Springer SH. Impact of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Respiration, Antioxidants, and the Muscle Proteome in Thoroughbred Horses. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023 Jan 24;12(2).
    doi: 10.3390/antiox12020263pubmed: 36829821google scholar: lookup
  4. Dzięgielewska A, Dunislawska A. Mitochondrial Dysfunctions and Potential Molecular Markers in Sport Horses. Int J Mol Sci 2022 Aug 4;23(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms23158655pubmed: 35955789google scholar: lookup
  5. Owen RN, Semanchik PL, Latham CM, Brennan KM, White-Springer SH. Elevated dietary selenium rescues mitochondrial capacity impairment induced by decreased vitamin E intake in young exercising horses. J Anim Sci 2022 Aug 1;100(8).
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skac172pubmed: 35908793google scholar: lookup
  6. Latham CM, Guy CP, Wesolowski LT, White-Springer SH. Fueling equine performance: importance of mitochondrial phenotype in equine athletes. Anim Front 2022 Jun;12(3):6-14.
    doi: 10.1093/af/vfac023pubmed: 35711513google scholar: lookup
  7. de Meeûs d'Argenteuil C, Boshuizen B, Vidal Moreno de Vega C, Leybaert L, de Maré L, Goethals K, De Spiegelaere W, Oosterlinck M, Delesalle C. Comparison of Shifts in Skeletal Muscle Plasticity Parameters in Horses in Three Different Muscles, in Answer to 8 Weeks of Harness Training. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:718866.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.718866pubmed: 34733900google scholar: lookup
  8. Latham CM, Dickson EC, Owen RN, Larson CK, White-Springer SH. Complexed trace mineral supplementation alters antioxidant activities and expression in response to trailer stress in yearling horses in training. Sci Rep 2021 Apr 1;11(1):7352.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-86478-7pubmed: 33795725google scholar: lookup
  9. Mrugala D, Leatherwood JL, Morris EF, Dickson EC, Latham CM, Owen RN, Beverly MM, Kelley SF, White-Springer SH. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid supplementation alters skeletal muscle mitochondria and antioxidant status in young horses. J Anim Sci 2021 Feb 1;99(2).
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skab037pubmed: 33539534google scholar: lookup
  10. Owen RN, Latham CM, Long CR, Randel RD, Welsh TH, White-Springer SH. Temperament influences mitochondrial capacity in skeletal muscle from 8 through 18 mo of age in Brahman heifers. J Anim Sci 2020 Oct 1;98(10).
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa291pubmed: 32877918google scholar: lookup
  11. Li C, White SH, Warren LK, Wohlgemuth SE. Effects of aging on mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle of American American Quarter Horses. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2016 Jul 1;121(1):299-311.
    doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01077.2015pubmed: 27283918google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.