Estimation of the carnosine content of different fibre types in the middle gluteal muscle of the thoroughbred horse
Observational studyHorses
- Design
- Observational study
- Subjects
- 20 race-trained Thoroughbred horses
- Dose used in the study
- not applicable (no supplement given)
- Duration
- single biopsy sampling
- What was measured
- Carnosine content of needle biopsies from the gluteus medius at one of two depths; fibre typing (I, IIA, IIB) by myosin ATPase histochemistry; multiple linear regression to estimate carnosine per fibre type.
What the authors reported
The authors report that samples with a higher proportion of type II fibre area had higher carnosine content. Regression estimates of mean carnosine content were about 54 mmol/kg dry muscle in type I fibres, 85 in type IIA and 180 in type IIB. The estimates matched carnosine measured in mixed-fibre samples. They conclude that carnosine is an important physicochemical buffer in equine gluteal muscle, with the greatest role in type IIB fibres, where it may account for up to 50% of H+ buffering in the pH range 7.1 to 6.5.
Limits of this study
Fibre-type values are regression estimates from mixed-fibre biopsies, not direct single-fibre measurements. Full text not read.
Source
PubMed 1484359 · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1992.sp019310
Entry checked against PubMed abstract (E-utilities) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.