Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, plasma lactate and exercise tolerance

The purpose of this, trial was to determine the effect of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) on exercise tolerance in Quarter Horses. Five HYPP affected and five nonaffected horses were matched for age, size, gender and reproductive status. HYPP status was diagnosed by DNA analysis and potassium chloride challenge testing. Plasma lactate concentration and heart rate were used as indicators of work intensity. Serum potassium concentrations were also monitored. Two exercise experiments were conducted, the first being forty-five minutes of slow, aerobic exercise (hacking) and the other being moderate, partially anaerobic exercise (galloping). Post-exercise the horses were cooled out by randomly assigning them to either forty minutes, of standing still or forty minutes of walking. Heart rates of HYPP affected and unaffected horses were not significantly different during exercise or recovery. Plasma lactate concentrations changed slightly following slow exercise and were significantly higher for HYPP affected horses (P=0.01).At the end of exercise, values were 1.4±0.2 mmol/L and 1.0±0.1 mmol/L for HYPP affected and unaffected horses, respectively. Following moderate exercise, plasma lactate concentrations were much greater, and the difference (P<0.001) between affected and unaffected horses was more marked: immediately following exercise concentrations were 10.6±1.8 and 6.2±1.0 mmol/L in affected and unaffected horses, respectively. The higher post-exercise plasma lactate concentrations in affected horses indicates increased anaerobic muscle metabolism. Serum potassium concentrations rose following exercise and significantly higher values were seen in horses that were walked rather than stood still post-exercise.Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) is a dominant autosomal genetic defect occurring in American Quarter Horses and related breeds. ^1–5 The condition is widely geographically distributed and has been estimated to affect 0.4% of all Quarter Horses.⁶ Signs include sporadic attacks of muscle fasciculation, muscle spasm, sweating and weakness. Oral administration of potassium chloride produces a more severe hyperkalemia in HYPP affected horses and induces clinical attacks.¹ Electromyography reveals widespread continuous, spontaneous, muscle contraction.² Some people believe that HYPP affected horses are suitable for riding⁷; others have expressed doubts about the safety of this practice and the exercise tolerance of affected horses. HYPP affected horses have an unstable muscle membrane potential causing random muscle fiber contractions,^2,8 which could antagonize purposeful movement. This, in combination with increases in extracellular potassium concentration occurring during exercise,^9–11 may cause affected horses to stumble or collapse while being ridden, posing a danger to both horse and rider. In HYPP affected people, potassium concentration rises approximately one to two hours after exercise during which time HYPP attacks can occur.^9,10 For these reasons, the exercise tolerance of HYPP affected horses and the effects of exercise on spontaneous HYPP attacks deserves investigation.We standardized the exercise test and chose heart rate and plasma lactate concentrations as indicatoors, of exercise tolerance and energy metabolism.¹² Heart rate is the major determinant of oxygen delivery to muscle and the rate rises with exercise intensity until it reaches a plateau at high velocities.^13,14 Several lines of investigation indicate that plasma lactate concentrations reflect muscle work. Lactate release from resting muscle is minimal but large amounts are released during strenuous exercise.^15–17 Lactate release increases with increasing muscle work.^16,18 During exercise, muscle oxygen consumption increases until eventually a plateau is reached after which no further increase in oxygen consumption in response to increased work loads is possible.¹⁸ At this point the mitochondrial electron chain transport system is operating at its maximal possible rate, energy production can only be supplemented by the use of inefficient anerobic glycolytic metabolism and the muscle starts to release lactate. If the concentrations of plasma lactate are high, the muscles are depending on anaerobic metabolism and are working closer to exhaustion^16,18–21The objectives of this experiment were twofold. One was to determine if HYPP adversely affects exercise performance. The second was to study the effects of cooling out, by either standing still or walking, on serum potassium and plasma lactate concentrations.     

蒙古马不同耐力运动水平的血浆代谢组特征研究

旨在应用核磁共振(¹H-NMR)技术研究蒙古马耐力训练前后血浆代谢组变化特征。本研究选取6匹去势蒙古马：年龄(5.33±0.82)岁、体高(136.83±0.75) cm、体长(143.33±2.58) cm、胸围(157.17±2.04) cm、管围(18.45±0.27) cm，进行15及30 km步法为快步的耐力运动训练，采集其训练前后共计24份血液样本。采用氢质子共振频率600.13 MHz的Bruker AV III核磁共振谱仪测定血浆代谢物谱图信息。通过R语言偏最小二乘判别(PLS-DA)程序包及SPSS 20.0软件一维方差分析检验，鉴别组间代谢模式及差异代谢标志物。结果表明，在蒙古马15和30 km两次运动前后血浆代谢物中共发现47种差异代谢物，其中15 km运动前后鉴定出21个差异代谢物，运动后发现乙醇、甘露糖下降，葡萄糖、乙酰乙酸、丙酮酸、乳酸、肌酐、甘油、缬氨酸、丙氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸、苏氨酸、异丁酸、蛋氨酸、2-羟基异丁酸、O-乙酰肉碱、3-羟基异丁酸、3-甲基-2-氧代戊酸、3-羟基异戊酸升高。30 km运动前后鉴定出10个差异代谢物，运动后发现乙醇、葡萄糖、赖氨酸、甘氨酸、脯氨酸、谷氨酰胺、τ-甲基组氨酸、缬氨酸下降，甲醇、肌酸升高。对15 与30 km运动后进行比较发现，丙氨酸、柠檬酸、乙酸、赖氨酸、丙二酸、丙酮、2-羟基异戊酸、2-羟基异丁酸、泛酸、甜菜碱、异丁酸下降，乳酸、二甲基砜、丙酮酸、N-苯乙酰甘氨酸、马尿酸盐、甲醇、3-羟基异戊酸升高。在蒙古马15和30 km两次运动前后血浆代谢物中共发现47种差异代谢物，且两次运动前后的差异代谢物类别存在明显不同。蒙古马30 km负荷以脂肪酸有氧代谢为主方式供能，而15 km负荷以糖酵解无氧代谢为主的方式供能，酮体代谢是能量供应模式转换的过渡性阶段。本研究结果为我国耐力型运动马的训练及选育工作提供了理论依据。     

Bovine longissimus muscle glycogen concentration in response to isometric contraction and exogenous epinephrine

Isometric contraction was elicited in cattle by electrical stimulation (electrical immobilization) and was used as a means of investigating the interaction between muscle contraction and epinephrine-induced muscle glycogen degradation. At 0.5 and 24 hours after a 15-minute period of continuous muscle contraction, glycogen content of longissimus muscle specimens collected via needle biopsy was not different from precontraction concentrations. Epinephrine (13.2 mg/kg of body weight) given subcutaneously resulted in a 30% to 35% reduction of muscle glycogen. Reduction of muscle glycogen was slightly greater when epinephrine was used in conjunction with isometric contraction, compared with epinephrine treatment alone. Muscle glycogen increased, and free glucose, lactate, and glucose-6-phosphate decreased, with increases in body weight. In younger, lighter cattle (370 kg), epinephrine decreased muscle glycogen and lactate concentrations and generally decreased muscle glucose concentrations. Muscle-free glucose and lactate concentrations were increased in older, heavier cattle (446 kg) by contraction and epinephrine injection when the animals were immobilized for 30 minutes, with intermittent periods of muscle relaxation. In these cattle, muscle glycogen concentration slightly decreased with isometric contraction. Data indicate that reports of increased glycogenolysis observed in cattle subjected to stress by mixing strange animals or exercise is due to dynamic muscle contraction and not due to isometric muscle contraction.     

Skeletal bone and muscle proportionality in small- and large- framed mature horses of different muscle thickness

Twelve horses were utilized in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment to investigate the proportionality of the skeleton (small and large framed) and musculature (light and heavy) of mature horses. Large framed horses were longer from the elbow to fetlock, knee to fetlock, hock to fetlock, and from the poll to the end of the nasal bone than small framed horses. Withers height was correlated (P<.001) with the lengths of all long bones (r=.85 to .95) with the exception of the metacarpal bone (r=.69, P<.05). Yet when the lengths of the head, legs, scapula, humerus, femur, tibia, metacarpal, and metatarsals were expressed as a percentage of withers height, no differences between frame sizes were observed.The heavily muscled horses had greater (P<.05) rear quarter width, forearm circumference, gaskin circumference, head width and length than did the lightly muscled horses. The weights of the extensor carpi radialis, biceps femoris, and total round muscle were greater for the heavily muscled horses. Correlations (P<.001) between the weights of the biceps femoris and the total round muscle, total round tissue, and gaskin circumference ranged from .89 to .94 while correlations (P<.001) of the biceps femoris weight with quarter width and extensor carpi radialis were .83 and .82, respectively.Cannon wall area and circumference measurements did not differ for frame size or the degree of muscling but a correlation (r=.75, P<.01) was noted between the cannon circumference taken on the live horses and the actual circumference of the large and small metacarpals.The demonstrated relationship between the lengths of the long bones and height of a horse indicate little value for many of the traditional conformation guidelines governing selection of the ideal conformation horse. Horsemen should realize that many body lengths such as elbow to fetlock actually represented a relatively constant percentage of withers height. Lengths of the scapula, humerus, metacarpal, femur, and tibia also reflected a constant relationship with withers height. The correlations between the extensor carpi radialis and the biceps femoris weights refute the common belief that horses may naturally (no forced exercise) be more heavily muscled in either the fore or rear quarter. Therefore, the data support the theory of proportionality relative to the conformation of the skeletal size and muscling of predominantly Quarter Horse bred horses.     

The Effect of Exercise and Nutritional Supplementation on Proinflammatory Cytokine Expression in Young Racehorses During Training

The inflammatory response to vigorous exercise ranges from the mild symptoms of delayed-onset muscle soreness to debilitating injuries affecting soft tissue, joint, and bone. Although there is a great deal of information available on the inflammatory response to exercise in human athletes, less information is available regarding the inflammatory response to exercise in young horses undergoing training for racing careers. Here, we assessed the cytokine response to exercise in a group of young Thoroughbred racehorses during their initial training. Because there is interest in nonpharmacologic approaches to control or ameliorate exercise-induced inflammation, we also examined the anti-inflammatory effect of a nutritional supplement fed to half of the horses undergoing training. Twenty-five Thoroughbred horses aged 2 years were followed through their initial race training. Peripheral blood samples were collected at various times during the exercise for the quantitation of lactic acid, oxidative stress, and inflammatory cytokine gene expression. There was an intensity-dependent effect of exercise on lactate, malondialdehyde, and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression. Although training itself was associated with an overall reduction in inflammatory markers, horses receiving the supplement exhibited further reductions in their indicators of inflammation. As such, this study provides novel evidence of nutritional supplementation reducing postexercise inflammation.     

无角道赛特、特克塞尔和小尾寒羊夏季生长发育性能的比较分析

为了比较道赛特羊、特克塞尔羊及小尾寒羊的生长发育性能和适应性,试验对3品种羊的初生重、断奶重、体高、体重、体长、胸围、管围等生长发育指标进行测定分析,育肥后进行屠宰测定。结果表明,2个引进品种间初生重和断奶重无显著差异,且均表现出早期生长发育快的特点,其体高、体重等生长发育指标及屠宰性状均高于小尾寒羊,表现出良好的肉用效果和适应性。育肥后无角道赛特羊、特克塞尔羊胴体重、腰肌重、大腿重和眼肌面积显著高于小尾寒羊(P0.05)。     

Body measurements of newborn calves and relationship of calf shape to sire breeding values for birth weight and calving ease

Body measurements on Angus- (n = 374) and Polled Hereford-sired (n = 438) calves were used to quantify calf shape via multivariate factor analysis, and measurements on Polled Hereford-sired calves were further used to investigate relationships between calf shape and sire expected progeny differences (EPD) for birth weight and first-calf calving ease. Calf birth weight, head circumference, shoulder width, hip width, heart girth, cannon bone circumference and length, and body length were recorded at 24 h postpartum. Sire birth weight EPD was positively associated (P less than .05) with all calf measures but only with head and cannon circumference after adjustment for phenotypic birth weight and gestation length. Thus, at constant birth weight, calves from higher birth weight EPD bulls tended to have larger cannon and head circumferences. Calving ease EPD was negatively related (P less than .05) to all calf measures except shoulder width. After adjustment for birth weight, only cannon circumference was associated with calving ease EPD, and this effect was removed by additional adjustment for birth weight EPD. Thus, at constant birth weight, bulls with higher EPD for calving ease sired calves with smaller cannon circumference, but at constant birth weight EPD, body measures were not associated with calving ease EPD. Factor analysis defined underlying skeletal width and frame components of shape (independent of birth weight) for both sire breeds. Calf shape differed among sires and was in part explained by birth weight EPD. No additional variation in shape was explained by calving ease EPD. Calf shape seemed to add no information for prediction of dystocia to that provided by birth weight EPD.     

Quantitative trait loci analysis for growth and carcass traits in a Meishan x Duroc F2 resource population

We constructed a pig F2 resource population by crossing a Meishan sow and a Duroc boar to locate economically important trait loci. The F2 generation was composed of 865 animals (450 males and 415 females) from four F1 males and 24 F1 females and was genotyped for 180 informative microsatellite markers spanning 2,263.6 cM of the whole pig genome. Results of the genome scan showed evidence for significant quantitative trait loci (<1% genomewise error rate) affecting weight at 30 d and average daily gain on Sus scrofa chromosome (SSC) 6, carcass yield on SSC 7, backfat thickness on SSC 7 and SSC X, vertebra number on SSC 1 and SSC 7, loin muscle area on SSC 1 and SSC 7, moisture on SSC 13, intramuscular fat content on SSC 7, and testicular weight on SSC 3 and SSC X. Moreover, 5% genomewise significant QTL were found for birth weight on SSC 7, average daily gain on SSC 4, carcass length on SSC 6, SSC 7, and SSC X and lightness (L value) on SSC 3. We identified 38 QTL for 28 traits at the 5% genomewise level. Of the 38 QTL, 24 QTL for 17 traits were significant at the 1% genomewise level. Analysis of marker genotypes supported the breed of origin results and provided further evidence that a suggestive QTL for circumference of cannon bone also was segregating within the Meishan parent. We identified genomic regions related with growth and meat quality traits. Fine mapping will be required for their application in introgression programs and gene cloning.     

新疆褐牛犊牛在天然草场放牧条件下生长发育的研究

[目的]选用2～4月龄的新疆褐牛牛犊,研究其在放牧条件下体重、体尺的变化情况,为更好地指导新疆褐牛犊牛在放牧条件下的生产.[方法]通过在夏牧场进行现场试验,测定新疆褐牛犊牛的体尺指标和体重.[结果]从2.5到4.5月龄增重55.78 kg,日增重达0.930 kg.4.5月龄胸围比2.5月龄增加20.78%.3.5月龄的体斜长比2.5月龄增加10.2 cm,增幅为11.12%;4.5月龄比3.5月龄增长5.3 cm,增幅为5.20%,比2.5月龄增长15.5 cm,增幅为16.90%.4.5月龄体高比2.5月龄长高了11.7 cm,长高幅度为13.48%.4.5月龄管围比2.5月龄管围增大1.3 cm,增大幅度为10.66%.[结论]随着月龄的增加,体重增长迅速,体尺指标也在增长,尤其相差一个月以上差异明显,但增幅呈下降趋势.     

Effects of muscle glycogen depletion on some metabolic and physiological responses to submaximal treadmill exercise.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of reduced muscle glycogen concentration on some physiological and metabolic responses during moderate intensity treadmill exercise in horses. Six Thoroughbred geldings were randomly allocated to 2 treatments (protocols A and B) or control in a 3 x 3 replicated Latin square design. In protocol A, horses performed low intensity exercise while horses in protocol B performed short bursts of high intensity exercise. Protocol A was designed to induce glycogen depletion mainly of slow twitch muscle fibers while protocol B aimed to deplete mainly fast twitch muscle fibers. Horses in the control group did not undergo exercise prior to the exercise test. Five hours after glycogen depletion, horses performed treadmill exercise at 60% VO2max at a treadmill slope of 10% until fatigue (20-30 min). The induced glycogen depletion prior to exercise had no significant effect on plasma glucose, insulin, or lactate concentrations during the exercise test, and there was no effect on glycogen utilization rate, although respiratory exchange ratios were lower in the glycogen-depleted groups. The VO2, heart rate and central blood temperature did not vary significantly between the protocols A and B and control throughout the exercise test. It was concluded that 20-30% depletion of glycogen concentration in the middle gluteal muscle resulted in a shift towards fat metabolism, but does not significantly affect heart rate, oxygen uptake, or concentrations of plasma glucose and lactate during moderate intensity exercise.     

鲁中肉羊初生体尺体重的遗传参数估计

为估计鲁中肉羊初生重、体高、体长、胸宽、胸深、胸围和管围的遗传参数,利用2018年上半年出生的611只鲁中肉羊的初生体尺体重数据,采用AI-REML (Average information restricted maximum likelihood)算法,借助DMU软件分析以产羔数为固定效应、个体加性遗传效应为随机效应的多性状动物模型。结果表明:鲁中肉羊初生重、胸宽、胸深、体高、体长、胸围和管围的遗传力分别为0.16、0.10、0.22、0.44、0.43、0.46和0.52,各性状之间遗传相关为-0.517～0.773,表型相关为-0.197～0.503。说明鲁中肉羊初生重、胸宽和胸深为低遗传力性状,体高、体长、胸围和管围为中等遗传力性状。     

Factor analysis of body measurements in Arabian horses

Data of 13 body measurements have been analysed from 166 Arabian horses, 123 mares and 43 stallions, ranging from 49 to 298 months of age, belonging to Alzahraa stud, Cairo, Egypt. General linear model was used to study age and gender effects on these measures. Gender was a significant source of variation for most studied traits, but not for neck girth, cannon bone circumference of fore and hind legs, and pastern girth of fore and hind legs. Age significantly affected pastern girths of fore and hind legs and cannon bone circumference of fore legs, while there was no significant effect on the other measurements. Pearson correlations, adjusted for age effect, between measurements were estimated and ranged from 0.02 to 0.84 for mares and from ?0.05 to 0.90 for stallions. Factor analysis with promax rotation for each gender was carried out to derive fewer independent common factors. Three factors were extracted which accounted for 66% and 67% of the total variance in mares and stallions respectively. The first, second and third factors in mares tended to describe body thickness, leg thickness and general size respectively; whereas in stallions they tended to differentiate among general size, leg thickness and body thickness respectively. The three extracted factors for each gender determine the main sources of shared variability that control body conformation in Arabian horses. These factors could be considered in selection programmes to acquire highly coordinated bodies in pure Arabian horses with fewer measurements.     

A preliminary study on the changes in some potential markers of muscle-cell degradation in sub-maximally exercised horses supplemented with a protein and amino acid mixture

In this preliminary study, time-dependent changes in plasma CK and AST activity, tyrosine (Tyr), 3-methyl-histidine (3mHis), glucose and lactate concentrations were analysed in nine horses under two different conditions. Furthermore, intramuscular concentrations of Tyr, 3mHis and activities of cathepsin B, acid phosphatase (ACP), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and mRNA expression of ubiquitin were determined at the same time. After studying the effects of exercise alone, the effects of exercise and feeding of an experimental protein/amino acid (AA) supplement were analysed. Horses were submitted to a total of four standardised exercise tests (SETs) of high intensity. Potential markers of muscle break down were determined prior to, immediately after, 4 and 18 h after exercise. The experiment was subdivided into two consecutive periods of 3 weeks. In each period, two SETs were performed. In the second period, horses were fed with the protein/AA supplement within 1 h after exercise. Significant changes in plasma, intramuscular Tyr levels and mRNA expression of ubiquitin were caused both by time in relation to exercise and by treatment with the protein/AA supplement. The experimental supplement significantly decreased the 4-h post-exercise expression of ubiquitin mRNA in muscle. Only a borderline increase of markers of lysosomal involvement was seen and CK and AST activity generally showed their normal post-exercise patterns. A clear post-exercise reduction of this CK activity, however, was not observed after supplementation with the protein/AA mixture. The current findings indicate that horses might benefit from protein and AA supplementation directly after training by decreasing post-exercise proteolysis. The results support that further studies should be performed to characterize changes in equine protein metabolism caused by exercise including underlying molecular mechanisms.     

不同用途马肢体各部位比例差异性分析研究

本试验通过测定纯血马×伊犁马、奥尔洛夫马×伊犁马、俄罗斯速步马×伊犁马和汉诺威马4个类型马细分体尺,并计算各体尺比例及体尺指数等指标,分析各体尺、体尺指数及各比例差异性。结果表明,在体高、体长、胸围、管围、颈长、肱骨长、背长、腰椎长、尻长、尻高、股骨长和胫骨长等体尺方面,纯血马×伊犁马、奥尔洛夫马×伊犁马、俄罗斯速步马×伊犁马均极显著低于汉诺威马（P<0.01）;体躯指数方面,纯血马×伊犁马显著高于奥尔洛夫马×伊犁马（P<0.05）;肱骨长/背长、股骨长/背长和胫骨长/背长方面,纯血马×伊犁马、奥尔洛夫马×伊犁马、俄罗斯速步马×伊犁马均极显著低于汉诺威马（P<0.01）;奥尔洛夫马×伊犁马和俄罗斯速步马×伊犁马之间所有指标差异均不显著（P>0.05）。本试验结果表明不同用途马匹体型结构具有一定差异性,为不同用途马匹的培育提供数据参考。     

Difference Analysis of Body Proportion in Different Uses Horse Breeds

Measuring subsection body measurements of Thoroughbred×Yili horses,Orlov trotter×Yili horses,Russia trotter×Yili horses and Hanoverian horse,and calculated the proportion and index,analysing differences in each body measurement,index and proportion.The results showed that the body height,body length,chest circumference,cannon bone circumference,neck length,humerus length,back length,lumbar spine,rump length,rump high,thighbone length and tibiae length of Thoroughbred×Yili horses,Orlov trotter×Yili horses and Russia trotter×Yili horses were extremely significantly lower than Hanoverian horse (P<0.01),the trunk index of Thoroughbred×Yili horse was significantly higher than Orlov trotter×Yili horses (P<0.05),the humerus length/back length,thighbone length/back length and tibiae length/back length of Thoroughbred×Yili horses,Orlov trotter×Yili horses and Russia trotter×Yili horses were extremely significantly lower than Hanoverian horse (P<0.01),all body measurements of Orlov trotter×Yili horses had no significant difference with Russia trotter×Yili horses (P>0.05).The experiment results showed that the difference in body structure of horses for different uses could provide data reference for breeding these horses.     

乐至黑山羊与营山黑山羊杂交改良效果初探

本试验利用乐至黑山羊(父本)杂交改良营山黑山羊(母本)以提高生产性能。分别测定了两品种羊及乐×营杂交一代羊6月龄的体高、体长、胸围、胸宽和管围以及2月龄、6月龄、12月龄和24月龄的体重,结果表明:杂交一代羊的所有指标明显高于营山黑山羊(P0.05),其中6月龄杂交一代公羊的体高、体长、体重、胸围和胸宽较营山黑山羊分别提高23.3%、25.2%、18.39%、38.9%和27.7%(P0.01);母羊体高、体长、体重、胸围和管围分别提高19.3%、21.7%、22.72%、26.4%和13%(P0.01),胸宽提高6.2%(P0.05)。说明杂交改良效果显著。     

Body measurements of crossbred calves sired by Simmental bulls divergently selected for progeny first-calf calving ease in relation to birth weight

Simmental bulls (n = 27) were divergently selected on linear model first-calf calving ease expected progeny difference (CEPD) relative to birth weight expected progeny difference (BEPD) so that body measures of calves from sires whose progeny tended to be born either with more or less dystocia than expected from BEPD could be obtained. At birth, calf weight, head circumference, shoulder width, hip width, heart girth, cannon bone circumference and length, and body length were recorded for 204 calves. These measures had also been obtained from the Polled Hereford X Angus dams of the calves at their births. Sire differences (P less than .05) existed for calf cannon bone circumference and length before and after adjustment for gestation length and birth weight of the calf. Sire BEPD was positively associated with cannon and head circumferences independent of phenotypic birth weight and gestation length. No relationship existed between CEPD or threshold model first-calf calving ease expected progeny difference and any calf measure, either before or after adjustment for birth weight. Multivariate factor analysis was used to describe independent components of skeletal width, frame, and thickness after removal of birth weight effects; factors were not related to genetic merit for calving ease or observed calving performance. Independent of weight, newborn calf measures were not highly related to body measures at weaning or to dam birth measures. Body shape differences at constant weight existed in crossbred calves, but they were not related to sire genetic merit for calving ease or measured dystocia. Selection for calf body shape, independent of birth weight, would not reduce dystocia.     

Effects of submaximal exercise on adenine nucleotide concentrations in skeletal muscle fibers of horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether disruption of adenine triphosphate (ATP) regeneration and subsequent adenine nucleotide degradation are potential mechanisms for rhabdomyolysis in horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) performing submaximal exercise. ANIMALS: 7 horses with PSSM and 4 control horses. PROCEDURES: Horses with PSSM performed 2-minute intervals of a walk and trot exercise on a treadmill until muscle cramping developed. Control horses exercised similarly for 20 minutes. Serum creatine kinase (CK) activity was measured 4 hours after exercise. Citrate synthase (CS), 3-OH-acylCoA dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities prior to exercise and glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) and lactate concentrations before and after exercise were measured in gluteal muscle specimens. Adenine triphosphate, diphosphate (ADP), monophosphate (AMP), and inosine monophosphate (IMP) concentrations were measured before and after exercise in whole muscle, single muscle fibers, and pooled single muscle fibers. RESULTS: Serum CK activity ranged from 255 to 22,265 U/L in horses with PSSM and 133 to 278 U/L in control horses. Muscle CS activity was lower in horses with PSSM, compared with control horses. Muscle G-6-P lactate, ATP, ADP, and AMP concentrations in whole muscle did not change with exercise in any horses. Concentration of IMP increased with exercise in whole muscle, pooled muscle fibers, and single muscle fibers in horses with PSSM. Large variations in ATP and IMP concentrations were observed within single muscle fibers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased IMP concentration without depletion of ATP in individual muscle fibers of horses with PSSM during submaximal exercise indicates an energy imbalance that may contribute to the development of exercise intolerance and rhabdomyolysis.     

应用逐步回归法估测中国西门塔尔牛体重的研究

本研究根据内蒙古乌拉盖地区某牛场牛的体长、体高、胸围、腹围、管围等体尺指数,应用逐步回归法,对牛的体重进行估测,并比较实测体重与估测体重之间的差异。得出估测中国西门塔尔牛体重的一般公式,按此公式所作的F和t检验均表明预测值与实际体重测定值无显著差异,其相关系数值达到0.952。