Equine muscle fiber types: A histological and histochemical analysis of select thoroughbred yearlings

Abstract

Summary Equine skeletal muscle was histologically and histochemically analyzed in orderto measure fiber composition. Well-sampled open muscle biopsies were obtained from the semitendinosus muscle in select yearling Thoroughbreds. Each biopsy was sectioned and stained for the Harris Hematoxylin and Eosin and the modified Gomori Trichrome in order to demonstrate the basic muscle fiber morphology delineating intra and extracellular elements. A thirdstain, CA++ activated myosin Adenosine Triphosphatase at pH 9.4 was used to differentiate between specific types on the basis of enzyme activities. Subsequent differentiation of Type I slow twitch and Type II fast twitch muscle fibers was assessed on the basisof staining intensity. The high predominance of Type II fast twitch fibers ranged from 85.1 to 100 % with a mean of 90.5 %. Racing records, as two- and three-year-olds, were monitored in order to qualitatively compare histochemical results with performance achievements. While caution must be exercised, results of this investigation suggested that it may be possible, at an early age to partially predict the potential of each horse to adapt to training and to compete successfully in races of varying distances.