Muscle characteristics in Thoroughbreds of different ages and sexes

Muscle biopsies were taken from the middle gluteal muscle in 163 healthy Thoroughbreds aged one to six years. The horses were separated according to sex and divided into four different age groups (one, two, three and four to six years). Muscle biopsies were analysed for fibre type (I, IIA and IIB), and the enzyme activities of citrate synthase, 3-OH-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and hexokinase were measured. The percentage of Type I fibres of all horses increased with age, irrespective of sex (from 9 to 16 per cent). The percentage of Type IIA fibres varied with age and sex, increasing in stallions from 34 to 53 per cent and in mares from 27 to 45 per cent, respectively. Correspondingly, the proportion of Type IIB fibres decreased with age and differed between sexes (stallions from 56 to 29 per cent and mares from 65 to 40 per cent) Muscle oxidative capacity increased with age as indicated by significant increases in the activities of citrate synthase (from 32 to 67 mmol/kg/min) and 3-OH-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (from 20 to 34 mmol/kg/min). The activity of hexokinase increased with age (from 2.4 to 4.8 mmol/kg/min), whereas the activity of lactate dehydrogenase decreased (from 1,754 to 1,444 mmol/kg/min). No differences were seen between stallions and mares in enzyme activities. This study shows that age is one factor influencing enzyme activities, the percentage of Type I fibres and the Type IIA/IIB ratio in M. gluteus medius of Thoroughbreds, and that stallions have a higher Type IIA/IIB ratio compared with mares.