Hereditary skeletal muscle diseases in the horse. A review

Prospection of genomic regions divergently selected in racing line of Quarter Horses in relation to cutting line

Selection of Quarter Horses for different purposes has led to the formation of lines, including racing and cutting horses. The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions divergently selected in racing line of Quarter Horses in relation to cutting line applying relative extended haplotype homozygosity (REHH) analysis, an extension of extended haplotype homozygosity (EHH) analysis, and the fixation index (F ST) statistic. A total of 188 horses of both sexes, born between 1985 and 2009 and registered at the Brazilian Association of Quarter Horse Breeders, including 120 of the racing line and 68 of the cutting line, were genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphism arrays. On the basis of 27 genomic regions identified as selection signatures by REHH and F ST statistics, functional annotations of genes were made in order to identify those that could have been important during formation of the racing line and that could be used subsequently for the development of selection tools. Genes involved in muscle growth (n=8), skeletal growth (n=10), muscle energy metabolism (n=15), cardiovascular system (n=14) and nervous system (n=23) were identified, including the FKTN, INSR, GYS1, CLCN1, MYLK, SYK, ANG, CNTFR and HTR2B.

MCT1 and CD147 gene polymorphisms in Standardbred horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Transport of lactate across membranes is facilitated by proton-monocarboxylate transporters (MCT). The most widely distributed isoform is MCT1, which needs an ancillary protein CD147. Studies on erythrocytes have shown that high activity of MCT1 is inherited as the dominant allele and that activity is regulated through CD147. Mutations of human MCT1 have been described that appear to impair lactate transport in muscles and cause exertional rhabdomyolysis. There are no reports of this potential relationship in the horse.

OBJECTIVES

To obtain sequences of equine MCT1 and CD147 to examine differences between horses with high and low lactate transport activity in their erythrocytes.

METHODS

Muscle biopsy samples were taken from 3 healthy Standardbred horses and from 7 horses which according to the owners had signs of myopathy after intense exercise. DNA and RNA were isolated and PCR analysis and sequencing performed.

RESULTS

Currently, PCR fragments covering 100% of MCT1 and 70% of CD147 coding region are retained and sequence analysis has demonstrated one single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the C-terminal area of MCT1 and one SNP in the extracellular domain of CD147. Both cause an amino acid change. The SNPs found are not related to lactate transport activity in erythrocytes or signs of myopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

More samples need to be analysed to make conclusions on the significance of the polymorphisms found. Furthermore, full sequence coverage of the coding region of CD147 is needed.

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE

The molecular probes produced could be used as tools to study gene regulation of lactate transport.

Pathologic findings in equine muscle (excluding polysaccharide storage): a necropsy study

Gross and histopathologic evaluation of skeletal muscle was performed in 229 equids (217 horses, 8 ponies, 3 donkeys, and 1 mule) 1 year of age or older undergoing postmortem examination at Oregon State University in a 2.5-year period. Animals were evaluated for grossly evident muscle lesions, and muscle samples were fixed in formalin, processed routinely, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) for glycogen. Muscle lesions were detected in 149 animals (65%). Chronic myopathic change (excessive fiber size variation and internal nuclei) was evaluated in horses without polysaccharide storage myopathy and was the most common finding (36 animals; 15.7%). Chronic myopathic change was more common in older animals. Generalized muscle atrophy was present in 30 animals (13.1%). Myonecrosis was attributed to endotoxic injury (11 animals; 4.8%), bone fracture (8 animals; 3.5%), bacterial infection (5 animals; 2.2%), muscle rupture (3 animals; 1.3%), selenium deficiency (2 animals; 0.9%), and exertional rhabdomyolysis (1 horse; 0.4%); cause was not determined in 9 animals (3.9%). Intramyofiber protozoa were detected in 19 horses and ponies (8.3%). Denervation atrophy was detected in 14 animals (6.1%). Neoplasia involving muscle occurred in 3 animals (1.3%), injection site reactions were detected in 4 animals (1.7%), and focal lymphocytic infiltrates were found in 6 animals (2.6%). Other findings were ring fibers (2 horses; 0.9%), fiber splitting (2 horses; 0.9%), and fat infiltration (1 horse; 0.4%). Skeletal muscle lesions are common in equids examined at postmortem. Transverse sections stained with HE and PAS are invaluable when evaluating equine muscle.

Equine metabolic myopathies with emphasis on the diagnostic approach comparison with human myopathies A review

This review gives an overview of the presently known human and equine metabolic myopathies with emphasis on the diagnostic approach. Metabolic myopathies are muscle disorders caused by a biochemical defect of the skeletal muscle energy system, which results in inefficient muscle performance. Myopathies can arise in different levels of the metabolic system. In this review the metabolic myopathies are categorized in disorders of the carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial myopathies (other than those described in lipid metabolism), disorders of purine metabolism, primary disorders involving ion channels and electrolyte flux and secondary or acquired metabolic myopathies.