The effect of an anabolic steroid and training on the skeletal muscle of the horse

Nimmo, Myra A. (1980) The effect of an anabolic steroid and training on the skeletal muscle of the horse. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

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Printed Thesis Information: https://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b1629114

Abstract

1) Resting Study: Nandrolone phenylpropionats (therapeutic dose) was administered i.m. to 4 healthy, mature castrate horses at weekly intervals for 7 weeks. Measurement of body weight and nitrogen excretion failed to show a consistent anabolic effect. Examination of biopsies from the semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles showed no alteration in water content or glycogen concentration with treatment. Similarly no changes were found in the activities of the following enzymes: lactate dehydrogenase, aldolase, citrate synthase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and 3-hydroxyacy1 CoA dehydrogenase. However a significant increase in the proportion of fast twitch low oxidative fibres of the biceps femoris was observed. The occurrence of some components of stallion behaviour in geldings was taken to reflect a residual androgenic activity in the compound. 2) Exercise Study: The effect of nandrolone phenylpropionate was investigated in 6 Thoroughbred geldings which were involved in a training programme. The study was conducted on a crossover basis, each animal acting as its own control. 3) Acute Exercise Study: Ca) Electron microscopy study. The effect of strength and endurance exercise on skeletal muscle ultrastructure was investigated in 3 Thoroughbreds and 1 Heavy Hunter using various fixation procedures. The resting ultrastructure was similar to that of other species. After strength exercise disruption was noted in all samples. Disruption was also noted after endurance exercise but only in samples fixed in osmium tetroxide. (b) netabolites . The 6 Thoroughbred horses of the exercise study were galloped over various distances 506m, 1025m, 1600m and 3620m. Glycogen depletion was significantly greater in the 1025m and 1600m than in the 506m trial. Pyruvate concentrations did not alter significantly with exercise. Lactate production over the 3 shorter distances was significantly greater than the production over the 3620m trial. There was no difference at any stage, in any parameter measured, between control and anabolic group. In conclusion, these studies have shown that at a high therapeutic dose, nandrolone phenylpropionate had little effect on the skeletal musculature of both resting and exercising Thcroughbreo horses. The only notable effect was the alteration in histochemical profile of the biceps femoris muscle. The relevance of this change to the racing performenes of the whole animal is questionable, Both the electron microscopical study and the investigation into the utilisation of fuels over various distances provides some preliminary results which serve as a good basis on which to continue. (Abstract shortened by ProQuest.).

Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
Qualification Level: Doctoral
Keywords: Veterinary science, animal sciences.
Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Supervisor's Name: Snow, Dr. D.H.
Date of Award: 1980
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:1980-71968
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 17 May 2019 13:36
Last Modified: 26 Oct 2021 14:36
Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.71968
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/71968

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