Exercise training increases oxidative capacity and attenuates exercise-induced ultrastructural damage in skeletal muscle of aged horses

Abstract

Exercise training improves functional capacity in aged individuals. Whether such training reduces the severity of exercise-induced muscle damage is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of 10 wk of treadmill exercise training on skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and exercise-induced ultrastructural damage in six aged female Quarter horses (>23 yr of age). The magnitude of ultrastructural muscle damage induced by an incremental exercise test before and after training was determined by electron microscopic examination of samples of triceps, semimembranosus, and masseter (control) muscles. Maximal aerobic capacity increased 22% after 10 wk of exercise training. ..