The Blood and Muscle Expression Pattern of the Equine TCAP Gene during the Race Track Training of Arabian Horses.

Monika Stefaniuk-Szmukier,Bogusława Długosz,Joanna Łątka,Katarzyna Ropka-Molik,Tomasz Szmatoła

doi:10.3390/ani9080574

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe highly selective breeding of horses results in a variety of fiber type compositions among the breeds. Moreover, fiber type composition is known to differ within and between muscles. Telethonin (TCAP) plays a significant role in myofibril assembly, muscle development, and functional regulation. Analysis performed by qPCR of the gluteus medius muscle and the whole blood of Arabian horses during the training schedule showed that the expression pattern of the TCAP gene differs between skeletal muscles and whole blood. The results of these studies are a base for further research focused on the identification of processes related to adaptation of exertion in horses.Horse musculature has been shaped through evolution by environmental and human factors, which has resulted in several extraordinary adaptations to physical effort. Skeletal muscle plasticity results from the response to mechanical stimulation causing hypertrophy, where sarcomeres increase the muscle’s cross-sectional area under the influence of contractile forces. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of transcript abundance of the telethonin (TCAP) gene, which is a part of the sarcomere macromolecular mechanosensory complex in the gluteus medius muscle, and the whole blood of Arabian horses during flat race training. The analysis, performed by quantitative PCR, showed an increase of TCAP transcripts in skeletal muscle. However, in whole blood, the transcript abundance decreased after the first stage of training and further increased after the second phase. The obtained results indicate a lack of similarity of TCAP gene expression in both tissues.

Highlights

The advances of next-generation sequencing technology have revolutionized the search for molecular markers involved in several different mechanisms in the field of animal breeding [1].In horses, previous research has led to the identification of variants associated with some utility traits; for example, a marker predicting optimal race distance in thoroughbreds has been found within the myostatin gene (MSTN) [2] and variation within the doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor3 gene (DMRT3) is responsible for the ability to use alternative gaits in gaited breeds [3]
Animals 2019, 9, 574 we demonstrated that exercise regime in horses activated several pathways associated with cell cycle, communication, proliferation differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as pathways involved in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, calcium signaling, and metabolic processes [4,5]
Performed analysis showed the differences in the expression pattern of the TCAP gene between investigated tissues of Arabian horses during in training periods, pattern characterized by the intensity of Performed analysis showed the differences the expression of the TCAP

Summary

Introduction

The advances of next-generation sequencing technology have revolutionized the search for molecular markers involved in several different mechanisms in the field of animal breeding [1].In horses, previous research has led to the identification of variants associated with some utility traits; for example, a marker predicting optimal race distance in thoroughbreds has been found within the myostatin gene (MSTN) [2] and variation within the doublesex and mab-3-related transcription factor3 gene (DMRT3) is responsible for the ability to use alternative gaits in gaited breeds [3]. Animals 2019, 9, 574 we demonstrated that exercise regime in horses activated several pathways associated with cell cycle, communication, proliferation differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as pathways involved in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, calcium signaling, and metabolic processes [4,5]. These findings led to further investigation and evaluation of RNA-Seq-based single nucleotide polymorphisms, located within the most significant deregulated differential expressed genes (DEGs), as potential markers for racing abilities in Arabian horses. Blood-based markers, which have the potential for early detection of homeostasis imbalance, especially in connection to the musculoskeletal system, are of great importance in the equine industry

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