The effect of exercise on blood metabolite levels in the horse.

The effects of exercise of different intensities on blood concentrations of glucose, lactate, pyruvate, free fatty acids and glycerol were studied in a group of clinically normal horses. Blood lactate, pyruvate and lactate/pyruvate ratio increased during exercise, particularly during galloping. These changes occurred within the first 12-15 seconds of exercise indicating that anaerobic metabolic pathways are brought into use very quickly in the strenuously exercising horse. Since blood glycerol levels were significantly increased during exercise body lipids were also mobilised. At the same time, free fatty acid levels increased during cantering but decreased during galloping indicating increased fat oxidation during strenuous exercise. It was concluded that both lipids and carbohydrates are as important energy sources in the exercising horse as in other species.     

The effect of exercise on the lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase isoenzyme composition of horse serum.

The distribution of lactic dehydrogenase, aldolase and creatine kinase in various horse tissues was determined. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase isoenzyme composition of horse serum, taken before and after exercise, was studied. Horse tissue isoenzyme patterns were also obtained. By comparing tissue and serum patterns, skeletal muscle was found to be the tissue of origin of the increase in serum lactic dehydrogenase and creatine kinase observed after exercise.     

The influence of dietary selenium levels on blood levels of selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity in the horse

Twenty mature geldings, averaging 535 kg, were used to determine the influence of dietary selenium (Se) on the blood levels of Se and Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (SeGSH-Px) activity in the horse. Horses were randomly assigned within breed to four treatments consisting of five horses each and fed a basal diet containing .06 ppm of naturally occurring Se. Diets were supplemented with .05, .10 and .20 ppm Se, as sodium selenite. Blood was drawn for 2 wk before, and for 12 wk following, the inclusion of supplement Se in the diets. Whole blood and plasma Se concentrations and plasma SeGSH-Px activities were determined from all blood samples. Selenium concentrations in plasma and whole blood increased linearly from wk 1 to wk 5 and 6, respectively, in Se-supplemented horses. After these times, no significant changes in Se concentration were observed in Se-supplemented or in unsupplemented horses throughout the remainder of the 12-wk trial. Plasma Se reached plateaus of .10 to .11, .12 to .14, and .13 to .14 micrograms/ml in horses supplemented with .05, .10 and .20 ppm Se, respectively. Whole blood Se reached plateaus of .16 to .18, .19 to .21, and .17 to .18 micrograms/ml in horses supplemented with .05, .10 and .20 ppm Se, respectively. Plasma SeGSH-Px activity was not significantly affected by dietary treatment. Therefore, this enzyme was not a good indicator of dietary Se in these mature horses.     

The effect of the duration and type of stress on some serum enzyme levels in pigs.

The effects of blood sampling from the ear vein, jugular vein and collection on exsanguination, on serum CK, LDH, GOT and PK activities were investigated. The activities of LDH and PK were higher in ear vein vena cava samples. The effect of pre-slaughter handling was also investigated. In general there was a significant progressive increase in serum enzyme activities from farm to slaughter, although the magnitude of the change varied for different enzymes.     

Early exercise in the horse

Across all equestrian disciplines, the single largest reason for wastage is musculoskeletal injury. It is, therefore, of importance that management and competition structures are in place to optimize the development of the equine musculoskeletal system to minimize wastage.Data from other species and, in particular, humans have demonstrated the benefit of early exercise and the dire consequences of inactivity. The horse has evolved as a cursorial animal capable of covering up to 10 km/d within 9 days of birth. Yet, modern equine management systems restrict, rather than promote, early exercise. Foals were shown to have a positive response to early preweaning paddock exercise (greater cartilage health), and more recent work has demonstrated that exercise over and above that normally occurring with pasture-reared foals, introduced as early as 3 weeks old, had positive effects on the equine musculoskeletal system. The response of juvenile horses to additional exercise is because of the tissue being responsive to priming. Epidemiological data indicate that the window for tissue modification may still be open when the horse is a yearling and even as a 2 year old.However, the method in which the exercise is applied may be of as much importance as the timing of the stimuli. A recent prospective study of both Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses demonstrated that the horses that entered training as 2 year olds had longer and more successful racing careers than those that entered training later in life. It would appear that even the initial stages of training are enough to provide a positive stimulus, as horses first registered with a trainer at 2 years old had the same advantages as those that raced as 2 year olds.The physiological, clinical, and epidemiological data indicate that, rather than restrict exercise and the use of horses at a young age, we should realign expectations with the capability of the horses’ musculoskeletal system and evolutionary template to maximize orthopedic health.     

Synovial and serum levels of triamcinolone following intra-articular administration of triamcinolone acetonide in the horse.

Seven mature thoroughbred horses, weighing between 400 and 541 kg, were each injected intra-articularly into three joints with 6 mg/joint of triamcinolone acetonide (Vetalog). The fourth joint, the control, was injected with saline. Synovial fluid was taken from all four legs of the horses on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 15 following the injections. Triamcinolone acetonide was assayed by a radioimmunoassay. Blood was collected at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 h and on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, and 15 following injection of either triamcinolone or saline. Both cortisol and triamcinolone were assayed. The results show that the synovial fluid level of triamcinolone was 7.5 micrograms/ml 1 day following treatment and decreased to 10 ng/ml by the 4th day. These low levels were maintained for approximately 14 days. By the 15th day, the triamcinolone was below a detectable level. Serum levels of triamcinolone increased to 3 ng/ml within 1 h and further increased to a peak of 4.3 ng/ml at 4th h. The level then decreased to 2 ng/ml at 24 h and to nearly an undetectable level in 48 h. The mean level of serum cortisol, on the other hand, gradually decreased as the serum level of triamcinolone increased. As the serum level of triamcinolone reached an undetectable level on the 2nd day, the serum cortisol level gradually increased and returned to the pre-administration level by the 5th day. These results showed that the intra-articular administration of triamcinolone maintained triamcinolone in the synovial fluid for 4-14 days and that the triamcinolone reached the blood within 1 h. The serum level of triamcinolone was maintained for 2 days and resulted in the inhibition of adrenal function for 4 days.     

Effects of high-intensity exercise on plasma catecholamines in the thoroughbred horse.

In Study 1, a single speed test of 6 to 12 m/sec was performed for 2 mins at an incline of 5 degrees on a high-speed treadmill (single-step test). Only one speed was performed per session and blood samples were taken before and after the test. In Study 2 horses cantered for 1 min at increasing speeds of 6 to 13 m/sec on an incline of 3 degrees (multiple-step test). Blood samples were taken before exercise, throughout the test and during recovery. In the single-step test plasma concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline both increased at speeds of 9 m/sec, as did blood lactate. Mean concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline at the end of the 12 m/sec test were 153 and 148 nmol/litre, respectively. Plasma concentrations were similar over all speeds although there was a tendency for the increase in noradrenaline to be greater than that of adrenaline at the lower speeds. The multiple-step test resulted in smaller increases in both adrenaline and noradrenaline. Although again closely correlated, increases in adrenaline were 20-30% greater than those for noradrenaline. In both exercise models, changes in plasma adrenaline and noradrenaline values with exercise showed an exponential relationship to plasma lactate. A plasma half-life of less than 30 secs was indicated during recovery from the multiple-step test. Changes in adrenaline and noradrenaline were much greater than previously recorded in man and emphasise the importance of catecholamines in mediating the physiological response of the horse to exercise.     

Effects of exercise on skeletal muscle and serum enzyme activities in pigs

In order to determine skeletal muscle and serum enzyme activities following exercise, six adult Landrace pigs were submitted to 10 min running on a treadmill (0.5 m/s, on a 12% gradient) and compared to six controls. Blood samples were obtained just before the exercise, immediately after, and 24 h, 48 h and 144 h after exercise. Muscle biopsies were taken from the longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris 24 h after exercise. Total lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and LDH isoenzymes in muscle and serum were unchanged. In muscle homogenates, there was no difference in total creatine phosphokinase (CK) activity between the two groups. Total CK activity in the biceps femoris muscle represented only 59% of that observed in the longissimus dorsi muscle. A mean CK-MB value of 2.5% was found in the control group for both muscles but after exercise it was 9.5% (p<0.05) for the biceps femoris and 12.2% (p<0.01) of the longissimus dorsi muscle. In serum, the total CK (p<0.05), CK-MM (p<0.05) and CK-BB (p<0.05) increased immediately after the exercise, followed by a progressive decrease.     

Respiratory responses to exercise in the horse

Horses are elite athletes when compared with other mammalian species. In the latter, performance is limited by cardiovascular or musculoskeletal performance whereas in athletic horses it is the respiratory system that appears to be rate limiting and virtually all horses exercising at high intensities become hypoxaemic and hypercapnoeic. This is due to both diffusion limitation and a level of ventilation inadequate for the metabolic level that enables horses to exercise at these intensities. In conjunction with these blood gas changes, total pulmonary resistance increases and the work of breathing rises exponentially and airflow eventually plateaus despite increases in inspiratory and expiratory intrapleural pressures. Horses breathe at comparatively high frequencies when galloping due to the tight 1:1 coupling of strides to breathing. Whether this effects gas exchange and, if so, to what extent, has not been fully elucidated.     

The influence of methane on the infrared measurement of halothane in the horse

Using two types of infrared anaesthetic analysers (Capnomac, Datex, Finland and Anaesthetic Gas Monitor [AGM] 1304, Bruel & Kjaer, Denmark) simultaneous measurements were made of halothane and methane concentrations in the expired gases from nine anaesthetised horses. Methane concentrations varied from 232 to 1770 ppm. The Capnomac gave halothane readings 0.35 to 4.5 per cent higher than those given by the other analyser. A highly significant linear relationship (r = 0.87) was found between this difference and the concentration of methane in the anaesthetic circuit. This linear relationship was confirmed by an in vitro study using methane-air mixtures containing approximately 500 to 2,500 ppm of methane and analysed in both the halothane and isoflurane measuring modes of the analysers. The AGM 1304 was totally unaffected by methane. We concluded that monitors with absorption in the upper end of the infrared spectrum are preferable for measuring the concentration of inhalation agents in low-flow anaesthetic systems.