title: Myosin heavy chain pattern in the Akhal-Teke horses.
abstract: This study investigates the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform composition in the gluteus medius muscle of the Akhal-Teke horses using SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Fifteen horses aged between 1.5 and 23.5 years were used in this study and divided into three age groups: 1.5 to 4 (n = 6), 9 to 13 (n = 5) and 18.5 to 23.5 years (n = 4). The average content of the MyHC I isoform was 11.72 ± 1.07% (variation between individuals: 7.09% to 20.14%). The relative content of the MyHC IIa and IIx isoforms was subsequently 38.20 ± 1.46% (30.73% to 48.78%) and 50.07 ± 1.10% (43.8% to 56.78%) from the total MyHC. The MyHC pattern in the skeletal muscles of the Akhal-Teke horses shows that the muscles of these horses have a high capacity both for endurance and speed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Department of Animal Health and Environment, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 62, Tartu 51014, Estonia. katlin.leisson@emu.ee
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leisson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alev
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaasik
authors.forename: Ü
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Jaakma
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seene