EFFECT OF THE ATHLETIC CONDITIONING ON THE MIDDLE GLUTEAL MUSCLE OF ARABIAN HORSES.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the skeletal musculature adaptations of Arabian Horses submitted to two different types of trainings. Muscular samples of middle gluteal muscle were obtained before and after the six week-period of training. These samples were submitted to histochemical analysis using myosin adenosine triphosphatase(mATPase) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide tetrazolium reductase (NADH-TR). Body weight and corporal score of the animals, as well as the area and frequency of the different types of muscular fibres were determined. The results demonstrated that the weight and corporal score did not differ significantly among groups even after training. The group did not exert significant effect on the composition and size of fibres. The training caused decrease in the percentage and area of type I fibres and increase in the percentage and relative area of type IIX fibres. KEY WORDS: muscular biopsy, middle gluteal muscle, equine, NADH.