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Fibre Composition, Enzyme Activity and Concentrations of Metabolites and Electrolytes in Muscles of Standardbred Horses

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica volume 15, pages 287–309 (1974)Cite this article

Abstract

LINDHOLM, ARNE and KARIN PIEHL: Fibre composition, enzyme activity and concentrations of metabolites and electrolytes in muscles of standardbred horses. Acta vet. scand. 1974, 15, 287–309. — Measurements of metabolites, electrolytes, water, RNA and protein concentrations, the activity of certain muscle enzymes (SDH and PFK) and muscle fibre composition were made on biopsy specimens from the gluteus medius muscle of 68 standardbred horses, ½ to 8 years old. The muscle fibres were classified in 3 major categories, slow twitch (ST), fast twitch and high oxidative (FTH) and fast twitch (FT) fibres. The percentage of FTH fibres was higher after the age of 4 years, averaging 54 %. ST fibres comprised 24 % and this value remained unchanged.

Glycogen concentration increased with age and averaged 95 and 126 mmol × kg−1 wet muscle in the youngest and oldest age groups, respectively. Lactate and pyruvate concentrations were markedly decreased, whereas ATP, CP, G-6-P and glucose were unaffected with age. Water content averaged 75 % in all age groups, whereas Na+ concentration increased, K+ concentration decreased and Mg2+ concentration remained unchanged with increasing age. SDH activity in ½- and 8-year old horses increased from 6.1 to 13.6 μmol × (g×min.)−1. PFK activity reached a peak at the age of 4 years after which it declined.

With the data presented as a background, measurements on muscle biopsies may be a new aid in diagnosing diseases in horses and even in evaluating treatment. Of special interest might be investigations of muscle biopsy specimens as a base in the formation of more adequate training methods in race-horses.

electrolytes; fibre types; glycogen storage; horse skeletal muscle; phosphofructokinase; succinate dehydrogenase.

Sammanfattning

Fibersammansättning, enzymaktivitet och koncentrationen au metaboliter och elektrolyter i muskulaturen hos travhästar.

Muskelbiopsier från gluteus medius, vastus lateralis, triceps brachii och infraspinatus har tagits på 68 travhästar i åldern ½–8 år. Muskelbitarna har undersökts på innehåll av glykogen, olika metaboliter, elektrolyter, vatten, RNA, protein, enzymaktivitet (SDH och PFK) samt fibersammansättning. Muskelfibrerna klassificerades i tre huvudgrupper: Långsamma (ST), snabba-högoxidativa (FTH) och snabba-lågoxidativa (FT) fibrer.

Antalet FTH fibrer ökade med ålder och var i medeltal 54 % vid 4–8 års åider. ST fibrerna utgjorde 24 % vilket ej ändrade sig med aider. Ytorna av de enskilda fibrerna var större hos hästar äldre än 2 år i jämförelse med yngre hästar. Ökningen uppgick till 25 % för FT fibrer och till 15 % för ST och FTH fibrer. Fiberytan av FT omfattade den största delen av totala tvärsnittsytan (43 %).

Glykogenkoncentration i vila var 95 mmoler glukosenheter × kg−1 våt muskel hos föl (% år) och ökade med ålder samt var hos 5–8 år gamla hästar 126 mmoler × kg−1. Laktat- och pyruvatvärden på föl var i genomsnitt 5,5 respektive 0,49 mmoler × kg−1 våt muskel. Vid 8 års åider hade dessa värden sjunkit till 2,9 respektive 0,03 mmoler × kg−1. Övriga undersökta metaboliter (ATP, GP, G-6-P, glukos) ändrades inte med hästens ålder.

Vatteninnehållet i muskulaturen var i genomsnitt 75 % hos samtliga hästar. Koncentrationen av Na+ var högre och av K+ lägre i den äldsta gruppen hästar jämfört med föl. Mg2+-koncentrationen ändrades inte med ålder. Aktiviteten av SDH var hos föl 6,1 μmoler × (g × min)−1, steg hos äldre hästar och nådde 13,6 μmoler × (g × min)−1 hos 8 år gamla hästar. Aktiviteten av PFK steg till 4 års ålder varefter den åter minskade. Koncentrationen av RNA och protein ändrades inte med ålder. Inga signifikanta skillnader beträffande de undersökta parametrarna noterades i de fyra olika muskier som undersökts.

Mot bakgrunden av erhållna resultat konkluderas att undersökningar baserade på muskelbiopsier bör vara av värde vid diagnostisering av muskelsjukdomar hos häst och vid utvärdering av olika behandlingsformer. Av speciellt värde kan sådan undersökning visa sig vara i samband med framtagande av mer ändamålsenliga träningsmetoder för sporthästar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Royal Veterinary College, the Department of Physiology, Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, Stockholm 50, Stockholm, S-104 05, Sweden

    Arne Lindholm & Karin Piehl

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  1. Arne Lindholm
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  2. Karin Piehl
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This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council and the Wallenberg Foundation.

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Lindholm, A., Piehl, K. Fibre Composition, Enzyme Activity and Concentrations of Metabolites and Electrolytes in Muscles of Standardbred Horses. Acta Vet Scand 15, 287–309 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547460

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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147