Topic:Biochemical Analysis
Biochemical analysis in horses involves the study of chemical substances and processes within equine biological systems. This field encompasses a wide range of components, including enzymes, metabolites, and electrolytes, which are essential for maintaining normal physiological functions. Biochemical tests are utilized to assess the health status of horses, diagnose diseases, and monitor treatment responses. Commonly analyzed biochemical parameters include liver enzymes, muscle enzymes, blood glucose, and electrolyte levels. These analyses provide insights into metabolic and organ function, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of equine health. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, applications, and implications of biochemical analysis in equine veterinary medicine.
Physiological and skeletal muscle responses to high-intensity interval exercise in Thoroughbred horses. The purpose of this study was to determine whether acute high-intensity interval exercise or sprint interval exercise induces greater physiological and skeletal muscle responses compared to moderate-intensity continuous exercise in horses. Unassigned: In a randomized crossover design, eight trained Thoroughbred horses performed three treadmill exercise protocols consisting of moderate-intensity continuous exercise (6 min at 70% VOmax; MICT), high-intensity interval exercise (6 × 30 s at 100% VOmax; HIIT), and sprint interval exercise (6 × 15 s at 120% VOmax; SIT). Arterial bloo...
Tissue predictability of elastography is low in collagenase induced deep digital flexor tendinopathy. Elastography is an emerging imaging modality for characterizing tendon injury in horses, but its ability to differentiate tissue deformability relative to treatment group and biochemical properties using a prospective, experimental study design remain unknown. Objectives of the current study were to (a) to investigate differences in glycosaminoglycan, DNA, and soluble collagen levels in mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treated limbs compared to untreated control limbs utilizing a collagenase model of tendinopathy; (b) compare elastographic features between treatment groups; and (c) determine tissue...
A hepatitis B virus causes chronic infections in equids worldwide. Preclinical testing of novel therapeutics for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) requires suitable animal models. Equids host homologs of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Because coinfections of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV occur in humans, we screened 2,917 specimens from equids from five continents for HBV. We discovered a distinct HBV species (Equid HBV, EqHBV) in 3.2% of donkeys and zebras by PCR and antibodies against EqHBV in 5.4% of donkeys and zebras. Molecular, histopathological, and biochemical analyses revealed that infection patterns of EqHBV resembled those of HBV in humans, including hepatotro...
Selected hematological, biochemical, and acid-base variables of Paso Fino horses living at different altitudes. This study aimed at describing selected hematological, biochemical, and acid-base variables of adult horses living at sea level and comparing them to those living at 5 different altitudes. One hundred and thirty-eight healthy Paso Fino horses > 2 years old were enrolled. Altitudes included the following: altitude A (0 to 50 m above sea level, masl; n = 23), B (1000 to 1050 masl; n = 25), C (1450 masl; n = 30), D (1950 to 2050 masl; n = 30), and E (2950 to 3100 masl; n = 30). A portable blood gas analyzer was used to determine selected biochemical and acid-base variab...
Association between nutritional values of hays fed to horses and sensory properties as perceived by human sight, touch and smell. Although hay is the foundation of most equine diets, horse owners rarely ask for biochemical analysis and the routine practice is to choose hay based on its 'perceived' nutritional value. The present study aimed at exploring the relationship between sensory properties as perceived by sight, touch and smell, and the nutritional value of hay measured by biochemical analysis using a 'free sorting task' method. Fifty-four non-expert participants were asked individually to: (1) observe 21 hays samples, (2) group together hays that they perceived as similar for each of the three modalities (hay appe...
Hematologic and biochemical profiles in Standardbred mares during peripartum. The purposes of this study were to determine physiological changes occurring in hematologic and biochemical parameters in mares between the last month of gestation and the first week after parturition. If a significant change was observed with respect to the reference interval of an adult horse, a further aim of the study was to establish different reference intervals. Blood samples were collected from 62 healthy pregnant Standardbred mares. Seventeen nonpregnant and nonlactating mares were used as a control group. In pregnant mares, blood sampling was conducted every three days from 1 month b...
Investigation of the effects of prostaglandin E₂ on equine superficial digital flexor tendon fibroblasts in vitro. To evaluate the effects of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) treatment on the metabolism of equine tendon fibroblasts in vitro to aid in investigating the response of tendon fibroblasts to injury and novel therapeutics. Methods: Superficial digital flexor tendon fibroblasts isolated via collagenase digestion from six young adult horses were grown in monolayer in four concentrations of PGE₂ (0, 10, 50, 100 ng/ml) for 48 hours. Cells and medium were harvested for gene expression (collagen types I and III, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein [COMP], decorin, and matrix metalloproteinase-1, -3, and -1...
Effect of the administration of an oral hyaluronan formulation on clinical and biochemical parameters in young horses with osteochondrosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and biochemical effects of the administration of oral hyaluronan (Hyal-Joint [HJ]) on young horses with osteochondrosis (OC). Our hypotheses were that HJ administration is safe, would decrease the degree of synovial effusion and the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in synovial fluid, and would increase the concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA) in plasma and synovial fluid. Eleven young horses with tarsocrural OC were included in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. Six horses rece...
Effect of blood lactate-guided conditioning of horses with exercises of differing durations and intensities on heart rate and biochemical blood variables. The velocity at which blood lactate concentration ([LA]) of 4 mmol/L is reached (v(4)) is widely used to determine fitness, but there are few published data on using [LA] as a guide for the exercise speed for training in horses. In this study, the effect of 3 conditioning programs with [LA] guided exercise speeds on v(4), v(200) (speed at a heart rate of 200 beats/min), blood [LA], plasma FFA ([FFA]), and alanine concentrations ([alanine]), before and after exercise, as well as heart rate during exercise, of horses was examined. Six 2-yr-old Haflinger stallions underwent an initial treadmill-b...
Characterization of hypertriglyceridemia and response to treatment with insulin in horses, ponies, and donkeys: 44 cases (1995-2005). To characterize signalment, clinical signs of disease, and clinical response to insulin in equids with hypertriglyceridemia. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 20 horses, 17 ponies, and 7 donkeys with hypertriglyceridemia. Methods: For analysis of medical record data, horses, donkeys, and ponies with multiple serum or plasma triglycerides measurements were separated into groups. Hypertriglyceridemic equids that were (HT-I; n = 14) or were not (HT-N; 10) treated with insulin consisted of equids with an initial triglycerides concentration > 44 mg/dL but < 500 mg/dL. Equids with an init...
Measurement of skin desmosine as an indicator of altered cutaneous elastin in draft horses with chronic progressive lymphedema. Chronic progressive lymphedema in Clydesdale and Shire draft horses causes severe disability of the limbs which leads to premature death of these horses. Since appropriate function of lymph vessels is dependent on the presence of viable elastin fibers, the goal of this study was to document differences in skin elastin fibers in affected horse breeds, compared to a nonaffected draft horse breed. Results: Biochemical analysis of cutaneous desmosine, a cross-linking amino acid found only in elastin, was used to measure elastin in the skin from 110 draft horses. This included 7 normal, 38 mildly a...
Control of the collagen fibril diameter in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon in horses by decorin. The distribution pattern of collagen fibril diameter in the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is known to differ in central and peripheral areas of some regions. This study reports the essence of collagen fibril differences among different regions of the equine SDFT by transmission electron microscopic (TEM) and high-voltage electron microscopic observations and biochemical analysis. The distribution of large collagen fibrils increased but the density of collagen fibrils decreased from the proximal metacarpal region to the distal metacarpal region. Large collagen fibrils with an ...
An integral biochemical analysis of the main constituents of articular cartilage, subchondral and trabecular bone. In articular joints, the forces generated by locomotion are absorbed by the whole of cartilage, subchondral bone and underlying trabecular bone. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that regional differences in joint loading are related to clear and interrelated differences in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of all three weight-bearing constituents. Methods: Cartilage, subchondral- and trabecular bone samples from two differently loaded sites (site 1, dorsal joint margin; site 2, central area) of the proximal articular surface of 30 macroscopically normal equ...
Serum fluoride concentrations, biochemical and histopathological changes associated with prolonged sevoflurane anaesthesia in horses. The volatile anaesthetic sevoflurane is degraded to fluoride (F-) and a vinyl ether (Compound A), which have the potential to harm kidney and liver. Whether renal and hepatic injuries can occur in horses is unknown. Cardiopulmonary, biochemical and histopathological changes were studied in six healthy thoroughbred horses undergoing 18 h of low-flow sevoflurane anaesthesia. Serum F- concentrations were measured and clinical laboratory tests performed to assess hepatic and renal function before and during anaesthesia. Necropsy specimens of kidney and liver were harvested for microscopic examinat...
Biochemical and antioxidant changes in plasma and erythrocytes of pentathlon horses before and after exercise. Physical exercise in the horse induces a series of normal physiological and biochemical adaptations. Increasing metabolism and oxygen uptake may induce oxidative stress in various organs. The aim of this study was to examine exercise-induced changes in some plasma and RBC biochemical and antioxidant variables in pentathlon horses. Blood samples were taken from 14 horses before, immediately after, and 24 hours after competing in two 1-minute runs of intense exercise over jumps. The peak intensity periods were preceded by a 20-minute warm-up and separated by a 20-minute break. The following plas...
Effects of inflammation-associated acute-phase response on hepatic and renal indices in the horse. To determine the effect of an acute soft tissue inflammatory response on biochemical and haematological indices of hepatic and renal function in the Thoroughbred horse. Methods: Soft tissue inflammation was induced in four Thoroughbred horses by intramuscular injections of Freund's complete adjuvant. The horses were clinically examined and blood and urine samples were collected before and after the adjuvant injections. Biochemical and haematological indices were measured in samples collected and used to determine the onset of the acute-phase response and to assess hepatic and renal function at...
Physiological measurements in horses after strenuous exercise in hot, humid conditions. The purpose of this study was 1) to measure and compare some physiological parameters in horses during a standardised treadmill exercise performed either in temperate atmospheric conditions (TC) (ambient temperature: 15 degrees C; relative humidity: 55%), or in hot and humid conditions (HHC) (ambient temperature: 30 degrees C; relative humidity: 75%) and 2) to follow the recovery of the same horses during 1 h after both tests. Five healthy fit Standardbred horses were investigated twice at 8 days interval, in TC and in HHC. Some measurements were made during a standardised treadmill exercise t...
Effect of sodium hyaluronate in collagenase-induced superficial digital flexor tendinitis in horses. Superficial digital flexor tendinitis was induced in each forelimb of 8 horses by injecting 4,000 U of collagenase into the midmetacarpal region of the tendon. In each horse, each tendon was treated 24 and 96 hours after the collagenase injection with SC injections of sodium hyaluronate (treated limbs) or an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl solution (control limbs). Exercise was restricted for the first 3 weeks of the study, and a controlled exercise program was instituted for the remainder of the study. Horses were evaluated clinically for lameness, tendon swelling, and midmetacarpal limb circumfere...
Evaluation of intra-articularly administered sodium monoiodoacetate-induced chemical injury to articular cartilage of horses. Three doses of sodium monoiodoacetate (MIA) were used to induce degenerative changes in articular cartilage in middle carpal joints of horses. Twelve young (2- to 5-year-old) horses, free of lameness, were randomly allotted to 3 groups. One middle carpal joint of each horse was injected with 0.9% NaCl solution (control joint). The contralateral middle carpal joint was injected with 0.09 mg of MIA/kg of body weight (group 1); 0.12 mg/kg (group 2); or 0.16 mg/kg (group 3). After MIA administration, horses were allowed ad libitum exercise in a 2-acre paddock for 12 weeks. At the end of the study,...
Biochemical analysis of normal articular cartilage in horses. Articular cartilage specimens from the distal articular surface of 32 radiocarpal bones from 24 2- to 5-year-old horses were analyzed. The total collagen content was determined on the basis of the 4-hydroxyproline content, using a colorimetric method. A method for estimating the proportions of types-I and -II collagen by measuring spectrophotometric densities of specific cyanogen bromide peptide bands from mixtures of types-I and -II collagen on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels was used. The cyanogen bromide peptides representative of each collagen types-I and -II were identified. Th...
Physiological, biochemical and haematological effects on horses of a phenylbutazone paste. Five matched pairs of horses were used to investigate the biochemical, haematological and general clinical effects of a new dosage schedule of a phenylbutazone paste administered under controlled feeding conditions. One group of horses received a loading dose (8.8 mg/kg) on day 1, followed by doses of 3.3 mg/kg daily on days 2 to 8, 10 and 12 with no treatment on days 9 and 11. The second group received equivalent doses of a placebo paste. Bodyweight, skin temperature, respiratory rate, glutamate dehydrogenase activity, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume and neutrophil count were alte...
Clinical biochemical and hematologic values of the American Miniature Horse: reference values. Sixteen clinical biochemical determinations and 13 hematologic measurements were performed on 49 healthy American Miniature Horses of mixed age and both sexes. Serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine values were also determined. Serum biochemical test results from American Miniature Horses compared favorably with values for full-sized horses, whereas differences in hematologic test results were noticed between American Miniature Horses and full-sized horses.
Effects of nandrolone phenylpropionate in the horse: (1) resting animal. The effects of 7 weekly injections of the anabolic steroid nandrolone phenylpropionate (400 mg) were investigated in 4 healthy, mature geldings. Measurement of body weight, nitrogen retention and plasma urea failed to demonstrate a consistent anabolic effects. Examination of biopsies from the semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles showed no alteration in water content or glycogen concentration with treatment. Similarly no changes were found in the activities of 6 muscle enzymes. However, a significant increase in the proportion of fast twitch low oxidative fibres of the biceps femoris was o...