Temporal analysis of reciprocal miRNA-mRNA expression in blood of Quarter Horses submitted to high intensity exercise

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the largest number of genes associated with high intensity/short duration exercise in horses and main pathways involved by the analysis of blood transcriptome and changes in circulating miRNA profile. Six barrel racing Quarter Horses will be used. Animals will perform an exercise test (ET) similar to a competition and blood samples will be collected before and at 30, 120 and 240 minutes after the end of the ET. The animals will undergo specific training for their modality during six months and will be submitted to a new ET to evaluate their adaptation to the training. Transcriptome and miRNA profile will be analyzed by microarray technique and 15 upregulated genes and 15 downregulated genes will be validated by TruSeq sequencing. (AU)