GLUCOSE CONSUMPTION AND LACTIC ACID PRODUCTION BY ERYTHROCYTES FROM DOUBLE-MUSCLED CATTLE

Abstract

The in vitro glucose consumption and lactic acid production by erythrocytes from 20 cattle of a Beef Synthetic (SY) breed group and 25 cattle of a double-muscled (DM) breed group were determined. There were three age groups and two sexes within each breed group. Animals within the DM breed group were categorized as either phenotypically normal- to moderate-muscled (DM carriers) or extreme-muscled (extreme DM) based on the phenotypic expression of the double-muscling trait and on their breeding history. Both DM phenotypes had higher (P < 0.01) erythrocyte glucose consumption and lactic acid production than normal-muscled, noncarrier cattle of the SY breed group. Extreme DM cattle were not different (P > 0.05) in either their erythrocyte glucose consumption or lactic acid production compared with DM carriers. No difference (P > 0.05) due to breed or phenotype was observed in the molar ratio of lactic acid produced to glucose consumed by erythrocytes. These results suggest that carriers of the Double Muscled Syndrome, regardless of phenotypic expression of the double-muscling trait, have a higher rate of erythrocyte glycolysis than normal cattle. Key words: Cattle, double muscled, erythrocyte, glucose, lactic acid