Does sex matter in the cheetah? Insights into the skeletal muscle of the fastest land animal.

The cheetah is considered the fastest land animal, but studies on their skeletal muscle properties are scarce. Vastus lateralis biopsies, obtained from male and female cheetahs as well as humans, were analysed and compared for fibre type and size, and metabolism. Overall, cheetah muscle had predominantly type IIX fibres, which was confirmed by the myosin heavy chain isoform content (mean±s.

A cross-over dietary intervention in captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus): Investigating the effects of glycine supplementation on blood parameters.

Captive cheetahs are prone to unusual diseases which may be attributed to their high muscle meat, collagen deficient captive diet. Glycine is a simple amino acid that is abundant in collagen rich tissues and has many physiological functions, specifically in collagen synthesis and in the conjugation of detrimental by-products produced during gut bacterial fermentation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 4 week glycine supplementation on the body measurements, haematology and serum blood parameters of 10 captive cheetahs using a randomised controlled cross-over design.

Fiber type and metabolic characteristics of skeletal muscle in 16 breeds of domestic dogs.

The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) species comprises hundreds of breeds, each differing in physical characteristics, behavior, strength, and running capability. Very little is known about the skeletal muscle composition and metabolism between the different breeds, which may explain disease susceptibility. Muscle samples from the triceps brachii (TB) and vastus lateralis (VL) were collected post mortem from 35 adult dogs, encompassing 16 breeds of varying ages and sex.

A novel description of the Vastus lateralis morphology of the Temminck's ground pangolin (Manis temminckii).

The pangolin (Manidae family) is the world's most trafficked animal, yet very little is known about its physiology and metabolism primarily due to its inconspicuous and solitary nature. Skeletal muscle samples from the Vastus lateralis were collected postmortem from a single female Temminck's ground pangolin (Manis temminckii). Samples were analyzed for fiber type composition, fiber size and myosin heavy chain isoform content.

Are Cape Peninsula baboons raiding their way to obesity and type II diabetes? - a comparative study.

Researchers, managers and conservationists in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, have reported cases of individual baboons (Papio ursinus) appearing overweight, lethargic and having poor teeth. Despite an intensive baboon management programme, there are certain individual baboons and troops that continue to raid human food sources. These food sources often are high in processed carbohydrates and saturated fats.

Reduced Glucose Tolerance and Skeletal Muscle GLUT4 and IRS1 Content in Cyclists Habituated to a Long-Term Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet.

Very little is known about how long-term (>6 months) adaptation to a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet affects insulin signaling in healthy, well-trained individuals. This study compared glucose tolerance; skeletal muscle glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) content; and muscle enzyme activities representative of the main energy pathways (3-hydroxyacetyl-CoA dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, citrate synthase, lactate dehydrogenase, phosphofructokinase, phosphorylase) in trained cyclists who followed either a long-term LCHF or a mixed-macronutrient (Mixed) diet. On separate days, a 2-hr oral glucose tolerance test was conducted, and muscle samples were obtained from the vastus lateralis of fasted participants.

Wild antelope skeletal muscle antioxidant enzyme activities do not correlate with muscle fibre type or oxidative metabolism.

Wild antelope are some of the fastest land animals in the world, presenting with high oxidative and glycolytic skeletal muscle metabolism. However, no study has investigated their muscle antioxidant capacity, and may assist in understanding their physical ability and certain pathophysiological manifestations, such as capture myopathy. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activities superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as five key regulatory enzymes that serve as markers of glycolysis (phosphofructokinase (PFK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)), the tricarboxylic acid cycle (citrate synthase (CS)), β-oxidation (3-hydroxyacetyl CoA dehydrogenase (3HAD)) and the phosphagen pathway (creatine kinase (CK)), in the Vastus lateralis muscle of six southern African wild antelope species (mountain reedbuck, springbok, blesbok, fallow deer, black wildebeest and kudu).