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Effect of A 90‐km Endurance Race on Resistance to Oxidation and Inflammation Levels in 6‐Year Old Horses
Author(s) -
Robert C,
Barrey E,
Patrice T
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12267_56
Subject(s) - absorbance , haptoglobin , lameness , zoology , horse , oxygen radical absorbance capacity , medicine , veterinary medicine , antioxidant capacity , chemistry , biology , surgery , chromatography , oxidative stress , paleontology
The aim of this study was to determine whether serum anti‐oxidant defenses are impaired by endurance exercise and to investigate possible correlation with performance in the race. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 23 Arabian or half‐Arabian horses (6 years old) the day before (T0) and 30 minutes after (T1) a 90‐km race. Performance records available included speed, heart rate 10 and 30 minutes after arrival and the rating by veterinarians based on recovery and gait (5 categories from ‘eliminated’ to ‘excellent’). Absorbance at 413 nm (A413), at 650 nm (A650) and absorbance of Rose Bengal ( RB ) were measured in sera at T0 and T1 (a higher absorbance means a lower antioxidant capacity). Relationships between blood variables and between T0 values and race results were evaluated using correlation analysis and means comparisons. Results All horses finished the race with an average speed of 16.3 km/h. Three horses were eliminated for lameness, one was excellent and the others were distributed between the other three categories. After the race, a significant increase of RB , A413, A413‐A650, PT and CK (P<0.001) was observed. At T0, RB and CK were significantly correlated (r = 0.52, P<0.01). At T1, absorbance values were significantly correlated with muscle enzymes and haptoglobin (r = 0.50–0.67, P<0.05). The speed of the horse was negatively correlated with RB at T0 (r = −0.42, P<0.05). No significant difference in absorbance values could be detected between the recovery categories. Conclusions A higher resistance to oxidative stress was observed before the race in the best performing horses. Ethical Animal Research The study design was approved by the E thics C ommittee for the A lfort V eterinary School and the U niversity of Paris‐Est under number 12/07/11‐1; owner informed consent was obtained before any manipulation on horses. Sources of funding: National Studs ( IFCE ), the Eperon Funds and the Arabian Horse Association ( ACA ). Competing interests: none.