Myosin heavy chain fibre type composition in foals: analyses at the mRNA and protein level.
BACKGROUND
An optimal developed musculoskeletal system is vital for the performance of the horse. Previously, we showed that in the m. gluteus medius from adult untrained horses, identical mRNA and protein expression patterns were found in the majority of fibres. However, co-expression of IIa and IId/x myosin heavy chain (MyHC) was substantially more common at the protein than at the mRNA level, suggesting a transcriptionally controlled fine-tuning of these 2 genes.


OBJECTIVE
To analyse the MyHC transcripts and proteins (including the cardiac alpha isoform) in the same muscle during post natal development when the muscle is adapting to movement and load.


METHODS
Biopsies were taken from the m. gluteus medius of 2 Dutch Warmblood foals at 0, 2, 4, 22 and 48 weeks of age. mRNA was compared to protein expression on a fibre-to-fibre basis using in situ hybridisation and immunofluorescence. The MyHC slow (I), alpha, IIa and IId/x isoforms were analysed.


RESULTS
At all ages the expression of the mRNA and protein MyHC isoforms was almost identical. Surprisingly, coexpression of the IIad isoform was also detected at the mRNA level especially early in life. The transcript of the alpha isoform was only detectable at young age, indicating silencing of the gene around birth.


CONCLUSIONS
During the first year of life, MyHCs are continuously adapting at the mRNA and protein level. Additionally, the regulation of hybrid fibres is different from that in adult fibres.


CONCLUSIONS
We postulate that interfering in this process by e.g. early training will be levelled out by the maturation of the muscle.
Eizema
K
K
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, PO Box 80. 158, NL-3508, TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van der Wal
D E
DE
van den Burg
M M M
MM
Dingboom
E G
EG
Everts
M E
ME
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018995:Myosin Heavy Chains