Skeletal muscle characteristics in red blood cell normovolaemic and hypervolaemic standardbred racehorses.

Muscle biopsy specimens from the middle gluteal muscle were studied in 16 red blood cell hypervolaemic (Group HV) and 19 normovolaemic (Group NV) Standardbred racehorses. All horses were stallions, 4-8 years old and having similar mean racing performance values, as described by an individual selection index value. All horses raced regularly but those in Group HV did not perform as expected and were therefore referred to the clinics for exercise tolerance testing. Muscle biopsy specimens were analysed for fibre type distribution (Type I, IIA and IIB), fibre area and relative fibre area. In addition, oxidative capacity of the fibres was evaluated by staining for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) tetrazolium reductase, and the activities of citrate synthase, 3-OH-acyl CoA dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were analysed in whole-muscle samples. With the exception of a higher percentage of Type IIB fibres in Group HV having a high oxidative capacity as evaluated by the NADH stain, no significant difference were found in fibre composition, fibre area or enzyme activity between the Groups HV and NV.