van Weeren P R, Firth E C, Brommer H, Hyttinen M M, Helminen A E, Rogers C W, Degroot J, Brama P A J
Global Equine Research Alliance/Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Equine Vet J. 2008 Mar;40(2):128-35. doi: 10.2746/042516408X253091.
Training at a very young age may influence the characteristics of the collagen network of articular cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) in horses.
To investigate whether increasing workload of foals results in significant changes in the biochemical composition of articular cartilage ECM.
Thoroughbred foals (n = 33) were divided into 2 different exercise groups from age 10 days-18 months. One group (PASTEX; n = 15) was reared at pasture; the other (CONDEX; n = 18) underwent a specific additional training programme that increased workload by 30%. At mean age 18 months, 6 animals from each group were subjected to euthanasia. The proximal articular surface of the proximal phalanx of the right hindlimb was examined for the presence of damage using the cartilage degeneration index (CDI). Samples were taken from 2 sites with known different loading patterns. Slices were analysed for DNA, glycosaminoglycans (GAG), collagen and post translational modifications of collagen (formation of hydroxylysylpyridinoline [HP] and pentosidine crosslinks, and hydroxylysine [Hyl]), and exercise groups and different sites compared.
There were no differences in CDI between PASTEX and CONDEX animals, indicating the absence of extra joint damage due to the exercise regimen. There were site-related differences for most biochemical variables, corroborating earlier reports. All biochemical variables showed differences between PASTEX and CONDEX groups at one of the sites, and some at both. GAG and collagen levels were lower in the CONDEX group whereas Hyl, HP crosslinks and pentosidine crosslinks were higher.
A measurable effect of the conditioning exercise was demonstrated. The margin between too much and too little work when training foals may be narrower than intuitively presumed.
在非常年幼时进行训练可能会影响马关节软骨细胞外基质（ECM）胶原网络的特性。
研究幼驹工作量的增加是否会导致关节软骨ECM生化组成的显著变化。
将纯种幼驹（n = 33）从10日龄至18月龄分为2个不同的运动组。一组（PASTEX；n = 15）在牧场饲养；另一组（CONDEX；n = 18）接受特定的额外训练计划，该计划使工作量增加30%。在平均18月龄时，每组6只动物实施安乐死。使用软骨退变指数（CDI）检查右后肢近节指骨近端关节表面是否存在损伤。从2个具有已知不同负荷模式的部位采集样本。对切片进行DNA、糖胺聚糖（GAG）、胶原蛋白以及胶原蛋白的翻译后修饰（羟赖氨酸吡啶啉[HP]和戊糖苷交联的形成以及羟赖氨酸[Hyl]）分析，并比较运动组和不同部位。
PASTEX组和CONDEX组动物的CDI无差异，表明运动方案未导致关节外损伤。大多数生化变量存在部位相关差异，证实了早期报告。所有生化变量在其中一个部位显示出PASTEX组和CONDEX组之间的差异，有些在两个部位均有差异。CONDEX组的GAG和胶原蛋白水平较低，而Hyl、HP交联和戊糖苷交联较高。
证明了适应性运动有可测量的效果。训练幼驹时，工作量过多与过少之间的界限可能比直观推测的更窄。
