Changes in the metabolic profile of equine muscle from birth through 1 yr of age

The purpose of this study was to investigate metabolic changes in equine muscle from birth to 1 yr of age. Duplicate biopsies from the middle portion of the gluteus medius were obtained from a depth of 2 cm beneath the superficial fascia at 1 day, 7 days, 1 mo, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 11 quarter horses and at 1 day, 3 mo, 6 mo, and 1 yr of age in 5 Standardbreds. Muscle enzyme activities determined were citrate synthase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, phosphorylase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Percent fast-twitch, fast-twitch high oxidative, and slow-twitch oxidative fiber types were determined using succinate dehydrogenase and myosin adenosinetriphosphatase (pH 9.4) histochemical stains. Histochemically determined muscle fiber-type percents did not change dramatically with increasing age. However, lactate dehydrogenase activity increased threefold in quarter horses and twofold in Standardbreds, and phosphorylase activity increased sixfold in quarter horses and sevenfold in Standardbreds from 1 day to 6 mo of age. Citrate synthase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities decreased during the first 3 mo of age in quarter horses.