Characterization of fibers from gluteus medius muscle in horses by histochemical and immunohistochemical methods

Abstract

Biopsies were taken at a depth of 4cm from the Gluteus medius muscle of 16 horses. The animals were 6 years old and had not been trained during 3 months before the study. The samples were analized by mATPase miofibrillar technique to determine the fibrillar composition by NADH-TR technique to determine the oxidative capacity of the fibres and immunohistochemistry to determine the fibre type.

The histochemical study revealed an average fibrillar composition of 14, 39, 30 and 17 % for fibres typed I, IIA, IIX oxidative and IIX no oxidative and the inmunohistochemistry study showed 16, 35, 29 y 20% for fibres type I, IIA, IIX and IIA-IIX.

The statistical analyses showed a good relationship between the histochemical and inmunohistochemical method in the determination of fiber types.

The immunohistochemical method allows a good identification of the fiber in adult horses.