Birgitta Essen-Gustavsson, a renowned expert in exercise physiology, fittingly provided a state-of-the-art lecture on equine skeletal muscle at the 2022 International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP) in Uppsala, Sweden. Her excellent presentation to a new generation of exercise physiologists was befitting a pioneer of the first ICEEP meeting in Cambridge, England in 1982. Essen-Gustavsson served as an editor for the Proceedings of ICEEP7 (Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 36, 2006) and her trainees have been prolific contributors to ICEEP meetings since its inception. After a productive 38-year career Birgitta Essen Gustavsson has now retired from her faculty position at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Birgitta’s career began in 1964 when she was offered an opportunity to travel abroad and work as a laboratory technician at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After a year, Birgitta moved to a laboratory at the University of California in San Francisco. She returned to Sweden in 1966 to continue her studies at Stockholm University and simultaneously work as a laboratory assistant for Bengt Saltin, a world-renowned expert in human exercise physiology. Saltin soon saw that Birgitta was meant for bigger things. After Birgitta completed her BSc, Saltin supervised her PhD which she obtained from the famous Karolinska Institute in 1978. Early in these studies she also interacted closely with Philip Gollnick, who was already one of the world’s leaders in the exercise physiology of muscle and was on sabbatical leave at the Karolinska, and they and Bengt wrote several papers together. Birgitta’s thesis, entitled ‘Studies in the regulation of metabolism in skeletal muscle using intermittent exercise as an experimental model’, focused on her lifelong interest in understanding the contribution of individual skeletal muscle fibres to the metabolic response to exercise of various types and duration.
Bengt Saltin shared an interest in orienteering with Arne Lindholm, and the two began a collaboration performing muscle biopsies on horses. The pair encouraged Birgitta to apply for a position as research director at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine in Uppsala. There, she and Lindholm joined Professor Sune Persson in the Department of Clinical Sciences in a new facility that included a first-of-its-kind high-speed equine treadmill. Essen-Gustavsson’s laboratory comprised an entire wing within the large animal clinic, providing assays for muscle histochemistry, biochemistry and single fibre analyses. Birgitta’s formidable research expertise combined with the skills of Professors Sune Persson and Arne Lindholm soon made Uppsala the Mecca for equine exercise physiology in the 1980’s and 90’s, and the group drew many visiting scholars over the years. Essen-Gustavsson’s endless scientific curiosity and powerful analytical and laboratory skills were the cornerstone of the department’s success.
Essen-Gustavsson’s research focused on exercise studies in horses, pigs, cattle, reindeer, lab animal species, and humans. Birgitta brought to light the importance of considering muscle fibre type composition in conjunction with biochemical analyses and showed how studies of whole muscle can mask profound metabolic stress and ATP depletion in individual muscle fibres after maximal exercise. Over her career, Essen-Gustavsson was a prolific researcher with over 150 refereed publications and numerous international presentations including at the Biochemistry of Exercise meetings held every three years.
Many graduate students came to work with the trio of Persson, Lindholm and Essen-Gustavsson in Uppsala. It was Birgitta, however, who was the glue that enabled graduate and post-doctoral students to stay and thrive. Her enthusiasm for research was infectious and she invested in her students’ well-being and success. Birgitta’s joy in a good scientific argument was infectious, and she revelled in her students’ discoveries. ‘I want to know what is happening in those bloody fibres’ was her frequent refrain. She was an expert at helping students understand how their discoveries fit with recent research findings and at challenging them to see where they might lead in the future. Birgitta’s door was always open, and she was often the first to read a draft of students’ papers and always provided insights on how to improve their paper. Essen-Gustavsson imbued her students with the ability to make concise, clear research presentations by listening to presentations repeatedly until they were just right. It was hard to find anything Birgitta didn’t know about skeletal muscle, and at night, there always was, and probably still is, a stack of research articles to read at her bedside table. In all, Essen-Gustavsson supervised 16 graduate students including equine students Stephanie Valberg, Merike Ronéus, Nils Ronéus, Katarina Nostell (nee Schuback), Kristina Karlström, Johan Bröjer, Peter Kallings, Anna Edner and Tobias Revold as well as post-doctoral fellow Joe Pagan. Her PhD students working in other species included Marianne Jensen-Waern, Lena Håglin, Elin Spangenberg, Anna Granlund, Robert Jonasson and Octavia Borges. Birgitta was, and remains, an academic mother to many of us and we proudly returned to Sweden with a new crop of her ‘academic grandchildren’ to collaborate in research projects.
Birgitta’s lab hosted and shared muscle histochemistry and biochemistry analytical methods with many international scholars including Rita Pöso from Finland, David Hodgson and John Thornton from Australia, and Tertius Kohn from South Africa. Throughout her career, Birgitta maintained an active interest in human exercise physiology collaborating with Professor Eva Blomstrand at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences (GIH) in Stockholm and Professor Kathy Myburg at Stellenbosch University in South Africa. Essen-Gustavsson served as an opponent or on the examining board of PhD students at the Karolinska Institute, Uppsala University, Örebro University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, and Helsinki University, Finland.
Birgitta’s deep engagement with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences led her to leadership positions within her department and at the Veterinary School later in her career. While this may not have been her first choice, her ability to bring people together to focus on the most important issues made her an integral player in University leadership.
In 2010, after a long and productive career, Birgitta retired from academia. She lives with her husband Ralf, in Stockholm, and spends most of her time at her summer house in her beloved Östernäs in the Stockholm archipelago. She enjoys competitive bridge and frequent visits from her son Fredrik. Many of us owe a debt of gratitude to Birgitta for lighting the fire of scientific curiosity and supporting us through all the ups and downs of our careers.
We raise a glass of cheer to Birgitta Essen-Gustavsson and celebrate her long-standing and productive career.
Corresponding author; e-mail: mckeever@sebs.rutgers.edu
Selected publications
Agüera, E.I., Muñoz, A., Castejón, F.M. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2001. Skeletal muscle fibre characteristics in young and old bulls and metabolic response after a bullfight. Journal of Veterinary Medicine A Physiology, Pathology, Clinical Medicine 48: 313-319.
Annandale, E.J., Valberg, S.J. and Essen-Gustavsson, B., 2005. Effects of submaximal exercise on adenine nucleotide concentrations in skeletal muscle fibers of horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy. American Journal of Veterinary Research 66: 839-845.
Armstrong, R.B., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Hoppeler, H., Jones, J.H., Kayar, S.R., Laughlin, M.H., Lindholm, A., Longworth, K.E., Taylor, C.R. and Weibel, E.R., 1992. O2 delivery at VO2max and oxidative capacity in muscles of standardbred horses. Journal of Applied Physiology 73: 2274-2282.
Bergh, A., Nordlöf, H. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2010. Evaluation of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on fibre characteristics and oxidative capacity in equine skeletal muscles. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 38: 671-675.
Blomstrand, E. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1987. Influence of reduced muscle temperature on metabolism in type I and type II human muscle fibres during intensive exercise. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 131: 569-574.
Blomstrand, E. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2009. Changes in amino acid concentration in plasma and type I and type II fibres during resistance exercise and recovery in human subjects. Amino Acids 37: 629-636.
Blomstrand, E., Bergh, U., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Ekblom, B., 1984. Influence of low muscle temperature on muscle metabolism during intense dynamic exercise. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 120: 229-236.
Borges, O. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1989. Enzyme activities in type I and II muscle fibres of human skeletal muscle in relation to age and torque development. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 136: 29-36.
Borgia, L.A., Valberg, S.J. and Essen-Gustavsson, B., 2010. Differences in the metabolic properties of gluteus medius and superficial digital flexor muscles and the effect of water treadmill training in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 38: 665-670.
Boushel, R., Hargreaves, M., Harridge, S., Essen-Gustavsson, B., Henriksson, J., Raven, P.B., Dempsey, J.A., Harridge, S., Richter, E.A., Secher, N.H., Mitchell, J.H., van Hall, G., Jansson, E. and Holm, I., 2015. Editorial. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine Science Sports 25 Suppl 4: 1-6.
Branth, S., Hambraeus, L., Piehl-Aulin, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Akerfeldt, T., Olsson, R., Stridsberg, M. and Ronquist, G., 2009. Metabolic stress-like condition can be induced by prolonged strenuous exercise in athletes. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences 114: 12-25.
Bröjer, J., Holm, S., Jonasson, R., Hedenström, U. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2006. Synthesis of proglycogen and macroglycogen in skeletal muscle of standardbred trotters after intermittent exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 36: 335-339.
Bröjer, J., Jonasson, R., Schuback, K. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2002. Pro- and macroglycogenolysis in skeletal muscle during maximal treadmill exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 34: 205-208.
Bröjer, J.T., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Annandale, E.J. and Valberg, S.J., 2006. Proglycogen, macroglycogen, glucose, and glucose-6-phosphate concentrations in skeletal muscles of horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy performing light exercise. American Journal of Veterinary Research 67: 1589-1594.
Bröjer, J.T., Nostell, K.E., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Hedenström, U.O., 2012. Effect of repeated oral administration of glucose and leucine immediately after exercise on plasma insulin concentration and glycogen synthesis in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 73: 867-874.
Connysson, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindberg, J.E. and Jansson, A., 2010. Effects of feed deprivation on Standardbred horses fed a forage-only diet and a 50: 50 forage-oats diet. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 38: 335-340.
Connysson, M., Muhonen, S., Lindberg, J.E., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Nyman, G., Nostell, K. and Jansson, A., 2006. Effects on exercise response, fluid and acid-base balance of protein intake from forage-only diets in standardbred horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 36: 648-653.
Ebeling, P., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Tuominen, J.A. and Koivisto, V.A., 1998. Intramuscular triglyceride content is increased in IDDM. Diabetologia 41: 111-115.
Edgerton, V.R., Essén, B., Saltin, B. and Simpson, D.R., 1975. Glycogen depletion in specific types of human skeletal muscle fibers in intermittent and continous exercise. In: Howald, H. and Poortmans, J.R. (eds.) Metabolic adaptation to prolonged physical exercise. Birkhäuser, Basel, Switzerland, pp. 402-415.
Edner, A., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Nyman, G., 2005. Muscle metabolic changes associated with long-term inhalation anaesthesia in the horse analysed by muscle biopsy and microdialysis techniques. Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, Pathology, Clinical Medicine 52: 99-107.
Edner, A., Nyman, G. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2002. The relationship of muscle perfusion and metabolism with cardiovascular variables before and after detomidine injection during propofol-ketamine anaesthesia in horses. Veterinary Anesthesia Analgesia 29: 182-199.
Edner, A., Nyman, G. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2005. The effects of spontaneous and mechanical ventilation on central cardiovascular function and peripheral perfusion during isoflurane anaesthesia in horses. Veterinary Anesthesia Analgesia 32: 136-146.
Edner, A.H., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Nyman, G.C., 2009. Metabolism during anaesthesia and recovery in colic and healthy horses: a microdialysis study. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 51: 10.
Edner, A.H., Nyman, G.C. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2007. Metabolism before, during and after anaesthesia in colic and healthy horses. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 49: 34.
Essén, B., 1977. Intramuscular substrate utilization during prolonged exercise. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 301: 30-44.
Essén, B., 1978. Glycogen depletion of different fibre types in human skeletal muscle during intermittent and continuous exercise. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 103: 446-455.
Essén, B., 1978. Studies on the regulation of metabolism in human skeletal muscle using intermittent exercise as an experimental model. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. Supplementum 454: 1-32.
Essén, B. and Häggmark, T., 1975. Lactate concentration in type I and II muscle fibres during muscular contraction in man. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 95: 344-346.
Essén, B. and Henriksson, J., 1974. Glycogen content of individual muscle fibres in man. Acta Physiologica Scandinavic 90: 645-647.
Essén, B. and Kaijser, L., 1978. Regulation of glycolysis in intermittent exercise in man. The Journal of Physiology 281: 499-511.
Essén, B., Fohlin, L., Thorén, C. and Saltin, B., 1981. Skeletal muscle fibre types and sizes in anorexia nervosa patients. Clinical Physiology 1: 395-403.
Essén, B., Hagenfeldt, L. and Kaijser, L., 1977. Utilization of blood-borne and intramuscular substrates during continuous and intermittent exercise in man. Journal of Physiology 265: 489-506.
Essén, B., Jansson, E., Henriksson, J., Taylor, A.W. and Saltin, B., 1975. Metabolic characteristics of fibre types in human skeletal muscle. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 95: 153-165.
Essén, B., Lindholm, A. and Thornton, J., 1980. Histochemical properties of muscle fibres types and enzyme activities in skeletal muscles of Standardbred trotters of different ages. Equine Veterinary Journal 12: 175-180.
Essén, B., Pernow, B., Gollnick, P.D. and Saltin, B., 1975. Muscle glycogen content and lactate uptake in exercising muscles. In: Howald, H. and Poortmans, J.R. (eds.) Metabolic adaptation to prolonged physical exercise. Birkhäuser, Basel, Switzerland.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Blomstrand, E., 2002. Effect of exercise on concentrations of free amino acids in pools of type I and type II fibres in human muscle with reduced glycogen stores. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 174: 275-281.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Borges, O., 1986. Histochemical and metabolic characteristics of human skeletal muscle in relation to age. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 126: 107-114.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Fjelkner-Modig, S., 1985. Skeletal muscle characteristics in different breeds of pigs in relation to sensory properties of meat. Meat Science 13: 33-47.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Jensen-Waern, M., 2002. Effect of an endurance race on muscle amino acids, pro- and macroglycogen and triglycerides. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 34: 209-213.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindholm, A., 1984. Fiber types and metabolic characteristics in muscles of wild boars, normal and halothane sensitive Swedish landrace pigs. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 78: 67-71.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindholm, A., 1985. Muscle fibre characteristics of active and inactive standardbred horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 17: 434-438.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Rehbinder, C., 1985. Skeletal muscle characteristics of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology 82: 675-679.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Tesch, P.A., 1990. Glycogen and triglyceride utilization in relation to muscle metabolic characteristics in men performing heavy-resistance exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology Occupational Physiology 61: 5-10.
Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Henriksson, J., 1984. Enzyme levels in pools of microdissected human muscle fibres of identified type. Adaptive response to exercise. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 120: 505-515.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Blomstrand, B., Karlström, K., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G.B., 1991. Influence of diet on substrate metabolism during exercise. Equine Exercise Physiology 3: 288-298.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Connysson, M. and Jansson, A., 2010. Effects of crude protein intake from forage-only diets on muscle amino acids and glycogen levels in horses in training. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 38: 341-346.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Gottlieb-Vedi, M. and Lindholm, A., 1999. Muscle adenine nucleotide degradation during submaximal treadmill exercise to fatigue. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 30: 298-302.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Granlund, A., Benziane, B., Jensen-Waern, M. and Chibalin, A.V., 2011. Muscle glycogen resynthesis, signalling and metabolic responses following acute exercise in exercise-trained pigs carrying the PRKAG3 mutation. Experimental Physiology 96: 927-937.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Jensen-Waern, M., Jonasson, R. and Andersson, L., 2005. Effect of exercise on proglycogen and macroglycogen content in skeletal muscles of pigs with the Rendement Napole mutation. American Journal of Veterinary Research 66: 1197-1201.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Karlsson, A., Lundström, K. and Enfält, A.C., 1994. Intramuscular fat and muscle fibre lipid contents in halothane-gene-free pigs fed high or low protein diets and its relation to meat quality. Meat Science 38: 269-277.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Karlström, K. and Lindholm, A., 1984. Fibre types, enzyme activities and substrate utilisation in skeletal muscles of horses competing in endurance rides. Equine Veterinary Journal 16: 197-202.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Karlström, K. and Lundström, K., 1992. Muscle fibre characteristics and metabolic response at slaughter in pigs of different halothane genotypes and their relation to meat quality. Meat Science 31: 1-11.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A., McMiken, D., Persson, S.G.B. and Thornton, J., 1982. Skeletal muscle characteristics of young Standardbreds in relation to growth and early training. In: Snow, D.H., Persson, S.G.B. and Rose, R.J. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology. Granata Editions, Cambridge, UK, pp. 200-210.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., McMiken, D., Karlström, K., Lindholm, A., Persson, S. and Thornton, J., 1989. Muscular adaptation of horses during intensive training and detraining. Equine Veterinary Journal 21: 27-33.
Essén-Gustavsson, B., Ronéus, N. and Pösö, A.R., 1997. Metabolic response in skeletal muscle fibres of standardbred trotters after racing. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B Biochemistry Molecular Biology 117: 431-436.
Frisk-Holmberg, M., Essén, B., Fredrikson, M., Ström, G. and Wibell, L., 1983. Muscle fibre composition in relation to blood pressure response to isometric exercise in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Acta Medica Scandinavica 213: 21-26.
Funkquist, P., Sandhagen, B., Persson, S.G., Hedenstierna, G., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Nyman, G., 2001. Effects of phlebotomy on haemodynamic characteristics during exercise in standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia. Equine Veterinary Journal 33: 417-424.
Gollnick, P.D., Pernow, B., Essen, B., Jansson, E. and Saltin, B., 1981. Availability of glycogen and plasma FFA for substrate utilization in leg muscle of man during exercise. Clinical Physiology 1: 27-42.
Gottlieb, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Skoglund-Wallberg, H., 1989. Blood and muscle metabolic responses to draught work of varying intensity and duration in horses. Research in Veterinary Science 47: 102-109.
Gottlieb, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G., 1989. Effects of a draft-loaded interval-training program on skeletal muscle in the horse. Journal of Applied Physiology 67: 570-577.
Gottlieb, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G., 1987. Cardio-respiratory and muscle metabolism responses to draught work on a treadmill in Standardbred horses. In: Gillespie, J.R. and Robinson, N.E. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology 2. ICEEP Publications, Davis, CA, USA, pp. 384-392.
Gottlieb, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G., 1988. Circulatory and muscle metabolic responses to draught work compared to increasing trotting velocities. Equine Veterinary Journal 20: 430-434.
Gottlieb-Vedi, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Thornell, L.E. and Lindholm, A., 1999. A comparison of the ultrastructure and metabolic response of the skeletal muscle of horses performing intense treadmill exercise at 20 and 35 degrees C. Zentralblatt fur Veterinarmedizin A 46: 209-218.
Gottlieb-Vedi, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindholm, A., 1996. Cardio-respiratory and plasma lactate responses to exercise with low draught resistances in standardbred trotters. Zentralblatt fur Veterinarmedizin A 43: 635-641.
Gottlieb-Vedi, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Persson, S.G., 1991. Draught load and speed compared by submaximal tests on a treadmill. Equine Exercise Physiology 3: 92-96.
Granlund, A., Jensen-Waern, M. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2011. The influence of the PRKAG3 mutation on glycogen, enzyme activities and fibre types in different skeletal muscles of exercise trained pigs. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 53: 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-53-20
Granlund, A., Kotova, O., Benziane, B., Galuska, D., Jensen-Waern, M., Chibalin, A.V. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2010. Effects of exercise on muscle glycogen synthesis signaling and enzyme activities in pigs carrying the PRKAG3 mutation. Experimental Physiology 95: 541-549.
Grotmol, S., Totland, G.K., Kryvi, H., Breistøl, A., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindholm, A., 2002. Spatial distribution of fiber types within skeletal muscle fascicles from Standardbred horses. Anatomical Record 268: 131-136.
Håglin, L. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1992. Effect of hypophosphatemia on muscle metabolism after exercise in pigs. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 33: 139-145.
Håglin, L., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindholm, A., 1994. Hypophosphatemia induced by dietary aluminium hydroxide supplementation in growing pigs: effects on erythrocytes, myocardium, skeletal muscle and liver. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 35: 263-271.
Håglin, L., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Kallner, A., Lindholm, A., Reiland, S. and Sjöberg, H.E., 1988. Hypophosphatemia induced by dietary aluminium hydroxide supplementation in pigs: effects on growth, blood variables, organ weights and renal morphology. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 29: 91-99.
Harris, R.C., Essén, B. and Hultman, E., 1976. Glycogen phosphorylase activity in biopsy samples and single muscle fibres of musculus quadriceps femoris of man at rest. Scandinavian Journal of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 36: 521-526.
Hedman, A., Berglund, L., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Reneland, R. and Lithell, H., 2000. Relationships between muscle morphology and insulin sensitivity are improved after adjustment for intra-individual variability in 70-year-old men. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 169: 125-132.
Henneberg, S., Stjernström, H., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Wiklund, L., 1985. Glucose balance and muscle glycogen during TPN in the early post-operative phase. Clinical Nutrition 4: 243-247.
Holtenius, K., Persson Waller, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Holtenius, P. and Hallén Sandgren, C., 2004. Metabolic parameters and blood leukocyte profiles in cows from herds with high or low mastitis incidence. Veterinary Journal 168: 65-73.
Howald, H., Boesch, C., Kreis, R., Matter, S., Billeter, R., Essen-Gustavsson, B. and Hoppeler, H., 2002. Content of intramyocellular lipids derived by electron microscopy, biochemical assays, and (1)H-MR spectroscopy. Journal of Applied Physiology 92: 2264-2272.
Jensen, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Hakkarainen, J., 1988. The effect of a diet with a high or low content of vitamin E on different skeletal muscles and myocardium in pigs. Zentralblatt fur Veterinarmedizin A 35: 487-497.
Jensen-Waern, M., Andersson, M., Kruse, R., Nilsson, B., Larsson, R., Korsgren, O. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2009. Effects of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in domestic pigs with focus on the amino acid metabolism. Laboratory Animal 43: 249-254.
Jensen-Waern, M., Lindberg, A., Johannisson, A., Gröndahl, G., Lindgren, J.A. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1999. The effects of an endurance ride on metabolism and neutrophil function. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 30: 605-609.
Jonasson, R., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Jensen-Waern, M., 2007. Blood concentrations of amino acids, glucose and lactate during experimental swine dysentery. Research in Veterinary Science 82: 323-331.
Kallings, P., Persson, S.G. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2010. Effects of flunixin on cardiorespiratory, plasma lactate and stride length responses to intense treadmill exercise in Standardbred trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 38: 618-623.
Karlsson, A., Enfält, A.C., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lundström, K., Rydhmer, L. and Stern, S., 1993. Muscle histochemical and biochemical properties in relation to meat quality during selection for increased lean tissue growth rate in pigs. Journal of Animal Science 71: 930-938.
Karlsson, A., Essen-Gustavsson, B. and Lundström, K., 1994. Muscle glycogen depletion pattern in halothane-gene-free pigs at slaughter and its relation to meat quality. Meat Science 38: 91-101.
Karlsson, J., Funderburk, C.F., Essen, B. and Lind, A.R., 1975. Constituents of human muscle in isometric fatigue. Journal of Applied Physiology 38: 208-211.
Karlsson, T., Stjernström, E.L., Stjernström, H., Wiklund, L., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Jorfeldt, L., 1995. Lactate metabolism and hypocarbic hyperventilation. An experimental study in piglets. Acta Anaesthesiology Scandinavica 39: 109-117.
Karlström, K. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2002. Myosin heavy chain-based fibre types in red cell hyper- and normovolaemic Standardbred trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 34: 279-282.
Karlström, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindholm, A., 1994. Fibre type distribution, capillarization and enzymatic profile of locomotor and nonlocomotor muscles of horses and steers. Acta Anatomica 151: 97-106.
Karlström, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Hoppeler, H., Straub, R. and Weishaupt, M., 1992. Capillary supply and fibre area in locomotor muscles of horse and steer – a comparison between histochemistry and electron microscopy. Acta Anatomica 145: 395-399.
Karlström, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G.B., 1991. Capillary supply in relation to muscle metabolic profile and cardiocirculatory parameters. Equine Exercise Physiology 3: 239-244.
Kayar, S.R., Hoppeler, H., Essen-Gustavsson, B. and Schwerzmann, K., 1998. The similarity of mitochondrial distribution in equine skeletal muscles of differing oxidative capacity. Journal of Experimental Biology 137: 253-263.
Kayar, S.R., Hoppeler, H., Lindstedt, S.L., Claassen, H., Jones, J.H., Essen-Gustavsson, B. and Taylor, C.R., 1989. Total muscle mitochondrial volume in relation to aerobic capacity of horses and steers. Pflugers Archive 413: 343-347.
Kiens, B., Essen-Gustavsson, B., Christensen, N.J. and Saltin, B., 1993. Skeletal muscle substrate utilization during submaximal exercise in man: effect of endurance training. Journal of Physiology 469: 459-478.
Kiens, B., Essen-Gustavsson, B., Gad, P. and Lithell, H., 1987. Lipoprotein lipase activity and intramuscular triglyceride stores after long-term high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets in physically trained men. Clinical Physiology 7: 1-9.
Kohn, T.A., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Myburgh, K.H., 2007. Do skeletal muscle phenotypic characteristics of Xhosa and Caucasian endurance runners differ when matched for training and racing distances? Journal of Applied Physiology 103: 932-940.
Kohn, T.A., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Myburgh, K.H., 2007. Exercise pattern influences skeletal muscle hybrid fibers of runners and nonrunners. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 39: 1977-1984.
Kohn, T.A., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Myburgh, K.H., 2011. Specific muscle adaptations in type II fibers after high-intensity interval training of well-trained runners. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 21: 765-772.
Kotova, O., Galuska, D., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Chibalin, A.V., 2006. Metabolic and signaling events mediated by cardiotonic steroid ouabain in rat skeletal muscle. Cellular and Molecular Biology 52: 48-57.
Kruse, R., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Fossum, C. and Jensen-Waern, M., 2008. Blood concentrations of the cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma during experimentally induced swine dysentery. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 50: 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-50-32
Lametsch, R., Larsen, M.R., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Jensen-Waern, M., Lundström, K. and Lindahl, G., 2011. Postmortem changes in pork muscle protein phosphorylation in relation to the RN genotype. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59: 11608-11615.
Larsen, F.H., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Jensen-Waern, M., Lametsch, R., Karlsson, A.H. and Lindahl, G., 2011. Analysis of acid-soluble glycogen in pork extracts of two PRKAG3 genotypes by 1H liquid-state NMR spectroscopy and biochemical methods. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 59: 11895-11902.
Lindberg, J.E., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Dahlborn, K., Gottlieb-Vedi, M. and Jansson, A., 2006. Exercise response, metabolism at rest and digestibility in athletic horses fed high-fat oats. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 36: 626-630.
Linderholm, H., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Thornell, L.E., 1990. Low succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity in a patient with a hereditary myopathy with paroxysmal myoglobinuria. Journal of Internal Medicine 228: 43-52.
Lindholm, A., Essen-Gusttavson, B., McMiken, D., Perrson, S. and Thornton, J.R., 1982. Muscle histochemistry and biochemistry in Thoroughbred horses during growth and training. In: Snow, D.H., Persson, S.G.B. and Rose, R.J. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology. Granata Editions, Cambridge, UK, pp. 211-217.
Lundström, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Rundgren, M., Edfors-Lilja, I. and Malmfors, G., 1989. Effect of halothane genotype on muscle metabolism at slaughter and its relationship with meat quality: a within-litter comparison. Meat Science 25: 251-263.
Martins, F.M., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindmark, L., 1985. Pattern of energy storage in the liver and muscle of rats submitted to total parenteral nutrition. Clinical Nutrition 4: 155-161.
McCue, M.E., Valberg, S.J., Pagan, J.D., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Roe, C.R., 2009. Effect of triheptanoin on muscle metabolism during submaximal exercise in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 70: 1043-1052.
Mykkänen, A.K., Hyyppä, S., Pösö, A.R., Ronéus, N. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2010. Immunohistochemical analysis of MCT1 and CD147 in equine skeletal muscle fibres. Research in Veterinary Science 89: 432-437.
Nostell, K., Funkquist, P., Nyman, G., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Connysson, M., Muhonen, S. and Jansson, A., 2006. The physiological responses to simulated race tests on a track and on a treadmill in standardbred trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 36: 123-127.
Nostell, K.E., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Bröjer, J.T., 2012. Repeated post-exercise administration with a mixture of leucine and glucose alters the plasma amino acid profile in Standardbred trotters. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 54: 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-7
Pagan, J.D., Essen-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Thornton, J.R., 1987. The effect of dietary energy source on exercise performance in Standardbred horses. In: Gillespie, J.R. and Robinson, N.E. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology 2. ICEEP Publications, Davis, CA, pp. 686-700.
Palmgren Karlsson, C., Jansson, A., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Lindberg, J.E., 2002. Effect of molassed sugar beet pulp on nutrient utilisation and metabolic parameters during exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 34: 44-49.
Persson, S.G.B., Essen-Gustavsson, B. and Lindholm, A., 1991. Energy profile and locomotor pattern of trotting on an inclined treadmill. Equine Exercise Physiology 3: 231-238.
Persson, S.G.B., Essen-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A., McMiken, D. and Thornton, J.R., 1982. Cardiorespiratory and metabolic effects of training of Standardbred yearlings. In: Snow, D.H., Persson, S.G.B. and Rose, R.J. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology. Granata Editions, Cambridge, UK, pp. 458-469.
Ponglowhapan, S., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Linde Forsberg, C., 2004. Influence of glucose and fructose in the extender during long-term storage of chilled canine semen. Theriogenology 62: 1498-14517.
Pösö, A.R., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Persson, S.G., 1993. Metabolic response to standardized exercise test in standardbred trotters with red cell hypervolaemia. Equine Veterinary Journal 25: 527-531.
Pösö, A.R., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G., 1991. Exercise-induced changes in muscle and plasma amino acid levels in the Standardbred horse. Equine Exercise Physiology 3: 202-208.
Revold, T., Ihler, C.F., Karlström, K., Larsen, S. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2011. Muscle characteristics in young Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters and associations with breeding index, body size and early training. Equine Veterinary Journal 43: 701-707.
Revold, T., Mykkänen, A.K., Karlström, K., Ihler, C.F., Pösö, A.R. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2010. Effects of training on equine muscle fibres and monocarboxylate transporters in young Coldblooded Trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 38: 289-295.
Ringmark, S., Roepstorff, L., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Revold, T., Lindholm, A., Hedenström, U., Rundgren, M., Ogren, G. and Jansson, A., 2013. Growth, training response and health in Standardbred yearlings fed a forage-only diet. Animal 7: 746-753.
Ronéus, B. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1986. Muscle fibre types and enzyme activities in healthy foals and foals affected by muscular dystrophy. Zentralblatt fur Veterinarmedizin A 33: 1-12.
Ronéus, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G., 1987. Field study of muscle characteristics in young Thoroughbreds. In: Gillespie, J.R. and Robinson, N.E. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology 2. ICEEP Publications, Davis, CA, USA, pp. 376-383.
Ronéus, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S.G., 1992. Skeletal muscle characteristics in young trained and untrained standardbred trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal 24: 292-294.
Ronéus, M., Persson, S.G., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Arnason, T., 1994. Skeletal muscle characteristics in red blood cell normovolaemic and hypervolaemic standardbred racehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal 26: 319-322.
Ronéus, N. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1997. Skeletal muscle characteristics and metabolic response to exercise in young Standardbreds. American Journal of Veterinary Research 58: 167-170.
Ronéus, N., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Eriksson, Y., 1994. Plasma lactate response to submaximal and maximal exercise tests with training, and its relationship to performance and muscle characteristics in standardbred trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal 26: 117-121.
Ronéus, N., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S., 1999. Muscle characteristics and plasma lactate and ammonia response after racing in Standardbred trotters: relation to performance. Equine Veterinary Journal 31: 170-173.
Rosenvold, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Andersen, H.J., 2003. Dietary manipulation of pro-and macroglycogen in porcine skeletal muscle. Journal of Animal Science 81: 130-134.
Saltin, B. and Essén, B., 1971. Muscle glycogen, lactate, ATP, and CP in intermittent exercise. In: Pernow, B. and Saltin, B. (eds.) Muscle metabolism during exercise. Advances in experimental medicine and biology 11. Springer, Boston, MA, USA.
Saltin, B., Nazar, K., Costill, D.L., Stein, E., Jansson, E., Essén, B. and Gollnick, D., 1976. The nature of the training response; peripheral and central adaptations of one-legged exercise. Acta physiologica Scandinavica 96(3): 289-305.
Santos-Concejero, J., Tucker, R., Myburgh, K.H., Essen-Gustavsson, B. and Kohn, T.A., 2014. Greater performance impairment of black runners than white runners when running in hypoxia. International Journal of Sports Medicine 35: 809-816.
Schuback, K. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1998. Muscle anaerobic response to a maximal treadmill exercise test in Standardbred trotters. Equine Veterinary Journal 30: 504-510.
Schuback, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Persson, S.G., 1999. Incremental treadmill exercise until onset of fatigue and its relationship to metabolic response and locomotion pattern. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 30: 337-341.
Schuback, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Persson, S.G., 2000. Effect of creatine supplementation on muscle metabolic response to a maximal treadmill exercise test in Standardbred horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 32: 533-540.
Schuback, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Persson, S.G., 2002. Effect of sodium bicarbonate administration on metabolic responses to maximal exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal Suppl. 2002 34: 539-544.
Spangenberg, E.M., Augustsson, H., Dahlborn, K., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Cvek, K., 2005. Housing-related activity in rats: effects on body weight, urinary corticosterone levels, muscle properties and performance. Laboratory Animals 39: 45-57.
Stålberg, E., Borges, O., Ericsson, M., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Fawcett, P.R., Nordesjö, L.O., Nordgren, B. and Uhlin, R., 1989. The quadriceps femoris muscle in 20-70-year-old subjects: relationship between knee extension torque, electrophysiological parameters, and muscle fiber characteristics. Muscle and Nerve 12: 382-389.
Sternbauer, K. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 2002. Insulin sensitivity and muscle characteristics in calves at different levels of physical activity. Journal of Veterinary Medicine A, Physiology, Pathology, Clinical Medicine 49: 449-454.
Taylor, A.W., Essén, B. and Saltin, B., 1974. Myosin ATPase in skeletal muscle of healthy men. Acta Physiologica Scandinavica 91: 568-570.
Tesch, P.A., Thorsson, A. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1989. Enzyme activities of FT and ST muscle fibers in heavy-resistance trained athletes. Journal of Applied Physiology 67: 83-87.
Thornton, J., Essen-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A., McMiken, D. and Persson, S., 1982. Effect of training and detraining on oxygen uptake, cardiac output, blood gas tensions, pH and lactate concentrations during and after exercise in the horse. In: Snow, D.H., Persson, S.G.B. and Rose, R.J. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology. Granata Editions, Cambridge, UK, pp. 470-486.
Valberg, S. and Essén-Gustavsson, B., 1987. Metabolic response to racing determined in pools of type I, IIa and IIb, fibers. In: Gillespie, J.R. and Robinson, N.E. (eds.) Equine exercise physiology 2. ICEEP Publications, Davis, CA, USA, pp. 290-301.
Valberg, S., Essén-Gustavsson, B. and Skoglund Wallberg, H., 1988. Oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle fibres in racehorses: histochemical versus biochemical analysis. Equine Veterinary Journal 20: 291-295.
Valberg, S., Essén-Gustavsson, B., Lindholm, A. and Persson, S., 1985. Energy metabolism in relation to skeletal muscle fibre properties during treadmill exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal 17: 439-444.
