Abstract

SANMARTIN-SANCHEZ, L.; PEREA-MUNOZ, JM.; PEREZ-RICO, A.  and  VEGA-PLA, JL.. Assessment of the length of horse telomeres using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Sanid. Mil. [online]. 2014, vol.70, n.2, pp.71-75. ISSN 1887-8571.  https://dx.doi.org/10.4321/S1887-85712014000200002.

Introduction: Telomeres are specialized structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes which play an important role in the maintenance of cell integrity and stability. The telomere length is considered one of the potential biomarkers of cellular aging. Objectives: To evaluate the possible use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction qPCR in the estimation of relative length of equine chromosome telomeres. Material and methods: A repetitive sequence corresponding to telomeres and a single copy gene (Interleukin-2) were amplified from blood samples of 175 horses of three breeds, different ages and both sexes. The relative length of telomeres of each individual was calculated by means of the response variables: the difference of quantification cycles number between telomeres and Interleukin-2 (Dif Cq) and the ratio between both values (T/S ratio). Results: The variable Dif Cq has a stronger association with the age than the variable T/S ratio. There was a negative correlation between the age and telomere length (R= -0,31, p<0,05). Conclusion: The qPCR technique is applicable to determine the relative length of telomeres in horses. The length of the telomeres shorten significantly from age 20, although no effect was found over the breed or sex.

Keywords : Horse; telomere; Quantitative Polimerase Chain Reaction (qPCR); age; breed; sex.

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