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The Effect of Reversible Left Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy on the Metabolic Cost of Locomotion and Peak Aerobic Power in Thoroughbred Racehorses
Author(s) -
EHRLICH PAULA J.,
SEEHERMAN HOWARD J.,
MORRIS ELISABETH,
KOLIAS CYNTHIA
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1995.tb01291.x
Subject(s) - medicine , treadmill , heart rate , respiratory exchange ratio , horse , ventilatory threshold , anaerobic exercise , anesthesia , cardiology , vo2 max , physical therapy , paleontology , blood pressure , biology
W. ROBERT COOK, BVSc, FRCVS The effect of left recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (LRLN) on the metabolic cost of locomotion (MCL) and peak aerobic power (V̇O 2 peak) was evaluated in four trained Thoroughbred racehorses. Oxygen consumption (V̇O 2 ), carbon dioxide production (V̇CO 2 ), venous lactate concentrations (LAC), and heart rate (HR) were measured during a treadmill exercise test (TET). Each horse performed the exercise test four times, alternating between normal upper airway function and reversibly induced LRLN. Subcutaneous infusion of 2% mepivicaine, a local anesthetic, into the region where the left recurrent laryngeal nerve passes caudal to the cricoid cartilage was used to induce LRLN. The induction of LRLN did not alter the relationship between V̇O 2 and treadmill speed at exercise intensities where V̇O 2 was less than V̇O 2 peak (<9 m/sec). However, a 15.3% reduction in V̇O 2 peak (Normal = 165.3 ± 3.4, LRLN = 140.0 ± 3.2 mL/kg/min ± SE, P <.001) occurred at higher treadmill speeds in horses with induced LRLN. A significant group (Normal v LRLN) by treadmill speed effect was found for LAC and R only at treadmill speeds where V̇O 2 =V̇O 2 peak. Peak lactate (LACpeak) did not change after the induction of LRLN. The relationship between HR and treadmill speed increased in horses with induced LRLN at exercise intensities where V̇O 2 < V̇O 2 peak. Peak heart rate (HRpeak) remained unchanged. Performance as indicated by the maximum number of speed intervals completed (STEPmax) decreased 7% in horses with induced LRLN (Normal = 9.1 ± 0.04, LRLN = 8.5 ± 0.2 minutes ± SE, P <.04). A comparison of paired exercise test measurements showed no evidence of a training effect, or decreased performance caused by a learned response, over the course of the experiment. The results of this study indicate that alterations in ventilation caused by LRLN cause a significant reduction in V̇O 2 peak, but do not cause an increase in the metabolic cost of locomotion at exercise intensities where V̇O 2 is less than V̇O 2 peak.