title: Positive influence of L-carnitine on the different muscle fibres types of racing pigeons.
abstract: Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), Ca(2+) ATPase, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), are involved in energy metabolism. These enzymes can be used as indicators of the energy capacity of aerobic cells. The study investigated the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on M. pectoralis superficialis, M. pectoralis profundus, M. extensor carpi radialis muscle and M. flexor carpi ulnaris. Twenty-eight racing pigeons hatched at the same time were divided randomly into three groups. Eight pigeons, which were used as the control group, were sacrificed at 92-day old. The remaining twenty pigeons continued training until they reached 157-day old, with half the pigeons getting 25 mg/head/day of L-carnitine, while the other half given the same amount of water. The pigeons were assessed by histochemical methods and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To assess influence of L-carnitine on muscle fibre composition and the performance of three genes' mRNA, this study applied SDH localization, SDH, Ca(2+) ATPase and LDH mRNA expression to examine the results after oral administration of L-carnitine in vivo in racing pigeons. The results showed that L-carnitine significantly elevated the amount of white muscle fibre type IIa (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression quantities of SDH and LDH gene was higher via RT-PCR method. However, the expression of Ca(2+) ATPase remains similar. In conclusion, appropriate oral administration of L-carnitine of 25 mg/pigeon/day will result in an improvement of muscles related to flying.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture, National Chiayi University, Chiayi City, Taiwan, China.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Z Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010856:Columbidae / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009124:Muscle Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002331:Carnitine
keywords: Ca2+ ATPase; Lactate dehydrogenase; l-carnitine; muscle fibre; racing pigeon; succinate dehydrogenase