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Total muscle mitochondrial volume in relation to aerobic capacity of horses and steers.
Abstract: The relationship between maximal oxygen consumption rate (VO2max) and mitochondrial content of skeletal muscles was examined in horses and steers (n = 3 each). Samples of the heart left ventricle, diaphragm, m. vastus medialis, m. semitendinosus, m. cutaneous thoracicus and m. masseter, as well as samples of muscles collected in a whole-body sampling procedure, were analyzed by electron microscopy. VO2max per kilogram body mass was 2.7 x greater in horses than steers. This higher VO2max was in proportion to the higher total volume of mitochondria in horse versus steer muscle when analyzed from the whole-body samples and from the locomotor muscle samples. In non-locomotor muscles, total mitochondrial volume was greater in horses than steers, but not in proportion to their differences in VO2max. The VO2max of the mitochondria was estimated to be close to 4.5 ml O2.ml-1 mitochondria in both species. It is concluded that in a comparison of a highly aerobic to a less aerobic mammalian species of similar body size, a higher oxidative potential may be found in all muscles of the more aerobic species. This greater oxidative potential is achieved by a greater total volume of skeletal muscle mitochondria.
Publication Date: 1989-02-01 PubMed ID: 2928085DOI: 10.1007/BF00584481Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
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.
This research investigates the connection between the maximum rate of oxygen consumption, or VO2max, and the mitochondrial content in the muscles of horses and cows. The study has shown that this connection appears stronger in horses, which are a more aerobic species, while less noticeable in cows, a less aerobic species.
Objective of the Study
The research primarily aims to investigate the relationship between the maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2max) and the mitochondrial content in the muscles of horses and cows. The authors tested this relationship on both highly aerobic (horses) and less aerobic (steers, or young bulls) species of similar body size.
Research Methodology
- The researchers analyzed various muscle samples from three horses and three steers. These samples were from the heart, the diaphragm, and several specific muscles like the m. vastus medialis, m. semitendinosus, m. cutaneous thoracicus, and m. masseter.
- They also collected muscle samples through a whole-body sampling method.
- The analysis was done using electron microscopy, a microscopy technique that uses a beam of electrons for illuminating the specimen and creating a magnified image of its features.
Key Findings
- The maximum oxygen consumption rate was found to be 2.7 times greater in horses than in steers when considered as per each kilogram of body mass.
- The higher VO2max in horses was in proportion with the increased total volume of mitochondria in their muscles, whether analyzed from the whole-body samples or just the locomotor muscle samples.
- In non-locomotor muscles, although horses had a higher mitochondrial volume than steers, it wasn’t directly proportional to their differences in VO2max.
- The VO2max of the mitochondria was found to be around 4.5 ml O2.ml-1 mitochondria in both the species.
Conclusion
The study concluded that the more aerobic species (in this case, horses) tend to have a higher oxidative capacity across all muscles. This higher capacity is due to a greater total volume of mitochondria present in the muscles of these species compared to the less aerobic species (steers). This finding, therefore, portrays that mitochondrial volume in muscles has a notable effect on the aerobic capacity of different mammalian species.
Cite This Article
APA
Kayar SR, Hoppeler H, Lindstedt SL, Claassen H, Jones JH, Essen-Gustavsson B, Taylor CR.
(1989).
Total muscle mitochondrial volume in relation to aerobic capacity of horses and steers.
Pflugers Arch, 413(4), 343-347.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00584481 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- Male
- Mitochondria, Muscle / metabolism
- Muscles / metabolism
- Oxygen Consumption
- Physical Exertion
References
This article includes 9 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Tabozzi SA, Stancari G, Zucca E, Tajoli M, Stucchi L, Lafortuna CL, Ferrucci F. Variation of skeletal muscle ultrasound imaging intensity in horses after treadmill exercise: a proof of concept for glycogen content estimation. BMC Vet Res 2021 Mar 16;17(1):121.
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- Zhang C, Ni P, Ahmad HI, Gemingguli M, Baizilaitibei A, Gulibaheti D, Fang Y, Wang H, Asif AR, Xiao C, Chen J, Ma Y, Liu X, Du X, Zhao S. Detecting the Population Structure and Scanning for Signatures of Selection in Horses (Equus caballus) From Whole-Genome Sequencing Data. Evol Bioinform Online 2018;14:1176934318775106.
- Rooney MF, Porter RK, Katz LM, Hill EW. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial bioenergetics and associations with myostatin genotypes in the Thoroughbred horse. PLoS One 2017;12(11):e0186247.
- Park W, Kim J, Kim HJ, Choi J, Park JW, Cho HW, Kim BW, Park MH, Shin TS, Cho SK, Park JK, Kim H, Hwang JY, Lee CK, Lee HK, Cho S, Cho BW. Investigation of de novo unique differentially expressed genes related to evolution in exercise response during domestication in Thoroughbred race horses. PLoS One 2014;9(3):e91418.
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- McGivney BA, McGettigan PA, Browne JA, Evans AC, Fonseca RG, Loftus BJ, Lohan A, MacHugh DE, Murphy BA, Katz LM, Hill EW. Characterization of the equine skeletal muscle transcriptome identifies novel functional responses to exercise training. BMC Genomics 2010 Jun 23;11:398.
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- Watanabe M, Sato F, Innan H. Rising trends of inbreeding in Japanese Thoroughbred horses. J Equine Sci 2024 Dec;35(4):57-61.
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