Equine metabolism encompasses the biochemical processes that occur within horses to maintain life, including the conversion of food into energy, the synthesis of necessary compounds, and the elimination of waste products. These processes are essential for supporting various physiological functions such as growth, reproduction, and physical performance. Key components of equine metabolism include carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, each of which contributes to the overall energy balance and health of the horse. Factors influencing metabolic rate and efficiency in horses include age, breed, diet, exercise, and health status. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, regulation, and implications of metabolic processes in equine physiology.
Myer YP, Kumar S.The ascorbate reduction of horse heart ferricytochrome c in 0.05 M phosphate + 0.25 M sodium sulfate, at pH 7.3, as a function of temperature, 12-36 degrees C, and at alkaline pH 8.4 using stopped flow technique has been examined. The data have been analyzed in terms of a two-step mechanism, binding followed by reduction (Myer, Y.P., Thallam, K.K., and Pande, A. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 9666-9673). At neutral pH and up to about 26 degrees C, the first order reduction constant is independent of temperature, i.e. with zero or near-zero activation energy. At higher temperatures, it becomes temp...
Irvine CH.Hypothyroidism in the foal occurs as two entities because of the separate actions of thyroid hormones in regulation of metabolic rate and in cell differentiation. The hypometabolic state which results in inadequate thermogenesis and lethargy, occurs concurrently with a period when thyroid hormone secretion is inadequate. Also the severity of the concurrent symptoms is related to the degree of hormone inadequacy as measured by plasma concentrations of free T4 and T3. By contrast, the developmental lesions caused by hypothyroidism are often observed during periods when plasma thyroid hormone con...
Baggot JD, Short CR.Differences between neonatal and adult animals in their response to drugs can usually be attributed to altered disposition (ie, distribution, metabolism and excretion) processes during the neonatal period. These alterations affect the plasma concentrations as well as the concentrations of drug attained at the receptor site. Some characteristics of the neonatal period include greater absorption from the gastrointestinal tract, lower extent of plasma protein binding, increased apparent volume of distribution of drugs that distribute in extracellular fluid or total body water, increased permeabil...
Stewart DR, Kindahl H, Stabenfeldt GH, Hughes JP.Changes in plasma 15-keto-13, 14-dihydro-prostaglandin F2 alpha were monitored at frequent intervals before, during and after spontaneous deliveries (three mares) and foalings induced by oxytocin (eight mares). No evidence of increased concentrations of the prostaglandin metabolite was observed in the final 10 days of gestation. In spontaneously delivering mares, there was a marked increase from 3 ng/ml at -125 mins to 18 ng/ml at -65 mins to the highest observed value of 182 ng/ml at 20 mins pre-partum. Following delivery, concentrations declined rapidly to around 0.2 ng/ml. Further release o...
Bijman J, Quinton PM.The effects of Ca2+, the cyclic nucleotides adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), and other parameters of sweat secretion from single equine sweat glands were examined in vitro. Extracellular Ca2+, the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and the Ca2+ channel antagonist verapamil were all without effect on sweat secretion. Prolonged rinsing of the glands in Ca2+-free Ringer solution with 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid decreased the secretion to 30% of the control sweat rate in response to the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol; the sweat respon...
Rossdale PD, Ousey JC, Silver M, Fowden A.This paper describes criteria used to assess maturity of the newborn foal and their clinical application to field cases of prematurity and dysmaturity. Premature and mature foals may be clearly distinguished by their behavioural and physical characteristics. Measurement of haematological parameters (mean cell volume, total white cell and differential counts), pancreatic beta cell activity (plasma glucose and insulin levels), adrenocortical-medullary function (plasma cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone and catecholamines) and the renin-angiotensin system (plasma renin substrate concentration...
Chang CK, Ward B, Ebina S.Carbon monoxide- and oxygen-binding rates and affinities were measured for horse heart myoglobins reconstituted with synthetic hemes lacking peripheral methyl and vinyl groups. There is an apparent correlation between heme size and ligand specificity, i.e. larger m values (ratios of CO vs O2 association rates, l'/k') with smaller hemes. However, this correlation broke down with the most dealkylated heme. This is interpreted as resulting from protein conformational changes altering the steric crowdedness at the O2-binding site. Spectral properties and autoxidation rates also corroborate this vi...
Rice DW, Blake CC.Crystals of horse muscle 3-phosphoglycerate kinase have been grown in the presence of a wide variety of substrates using either potassium tartrate or polyethylene glycol as a precipitant. In those grown from polyethylene glycol, two related crystal forms have been obtained by varying the nature of the substrates present in the crystallization medium. In order to obtain one of these forms, form B, the presence of the substrate 3-phosphoglycerate appears to be essential. The two crystal forms are not interconvertible by simple diffusion experiments and the crystals grown in the absence of 3-phos...
Staddon GE, Weaver BM, Lunn CE.Standard data for the horse which can be used in physiologically based mathematical computer modelling are presented. The data includes figures for tissue mass, density and perfusion, obtained by measurement mainly from horses weighing 200 to 300 kg. Other related parameters such as mean transit times and tissue blood volume have been calculated and included in the actual values listed for a 250 kg horse.
Essén-Gustavsson B, Karlström K, Lindholm A.Venous blood samples and middle gluteal muscle biopsies were obtained from 21 horses taking part in 100 km or 50 km endurance rides. Group A consisted of seven horses competing over 100 km (four horses completed the ride). Group B consisted of the six horses that were among the 10 best over 50 km while the other eight horses of Group C completed 50 km at a slower speed. Blood lactate, glycerol and creatine kinase increased in all groups while aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher only in Group A. No changes was found in blood glucose in Groups B and C while horses in Group A had lower ...
Higgins AJ, Lees P.Arachidonic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid covalently bound in esterified form in the cell membranes of most body cells. Following irritation or injury, arachidonic acid is released and oxygenated by enzyme systems leading to the formation of an important group of inflammatory mediators, the eicosanoids. It is now recognised that eicosanoid release is fundamental to the inflammatory process. For example, the prostaglandins and other prostanoids, products of the cyclooxygenase enzyme pathway, have potent inflammatory properties and prostaglandin E2 is readily detectable in equine acute in...
Weld JM, Kamerling SG, Combie JD, Nugent TE, Woods WE, Oeltgen P, Tobin T.The effects of naloxone on the cardiovascular, hematologic and metabolic derangements associated with endotoxic and hemorrhagic shock were studied in unanesthetized horses. In the first of 3 experiments blood glucose and lactate levels, hematocrit, white, red and differential white cell counts, rectal temperature and clinical signs were obtained before and after endotoxin (10 micrograms/Kg) administration in 5 horses. In the second experiment, two groups of 3 horses received either intravenous naloxone (0.04 mg/Kg) or saline, 7 minutes prior to endotoxin. In a third experiment two groups of 4 ...
Seanor JW, Byars TD, Boutcher JK.Renal dysfunction secondary to GI disorders may be relatively common in horses. Persistent dehydration of 8-10% of body weight can lead to prerenal azotemia, which may result in renal ischemia and renal disease if uncorrected. Dehydrated azotemic horses with a urine specific gravity less than 1.018 may have renal disease. Urine specific gravity readings greater than 1.025 usually indicate normal kidney function. A urine Na level less than 20 mEq/L and a urine/plasma creatinine ratio greater than or equal to 20:1 indicate prerenal problems. Use of nephrotoxic drugs should be avoided in septicem...
Szwarocka-Priebe T, Gill J.Twenty Thoroughbred 3 year old horses (10 stallions and 10 mares), trained and raced at the Warsaw Race-Course were studied from March through November. Blood was taken approximately every 8 weeks to determine the activities of aspartate and alanine transaminases, acid and alkaline phosphatases and aldolase. It was observed that the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase reached their maxima in July and alanine transaminase in May. The activities of acid phosphatase and aldolase showed their minima in July. Comparing these data with the literature it was noted that t...
Wichmann U, Wichmann G, Krause W.Blood levels of testosterone precursors, i.e. pregnenolone, progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, androstendione, DHEA, and delta 5-androstendiol as well as testosterone and estradiol are measured in 10 animals each of 10 different species. The determination is done by radioimmunoassay with steroidspecific antibodies. Precursors of the delta 5-pathway (DHEA, androstendiol) are low in the red deer, dog, cat, rat and guinea pig. Precursors of the delta 4-pathway (progesterone, 17-hydroxprogesterone, androstendione) are lower in the bull, boar, ram, stallion and rabbit thus indicating a pre...
Ketelaars HC, Peters JG, Anzion RB, Van Ginneken CA.The isolation, partial identification and quantitative determination of four guaiphenesin glucuronides in plasma and urine of the horse is described. The identity of the glucuronides was checked by UV and fluorescence spectrophotometry, by NMR spectrometry and by mass spectrometry after permethylation. The applicability of the procedure to pharmacokinetic studies is demonstrated.
Allhands RV, Torzilli PA, Kallfelz FA.The diffusion of glucose (180 M.W.), inulin (5,000 M.W.) and dextran (20,000 M.W.) into mature bovine and equine articular cartilage was studied. Concentration profiles were determined using a one-dimensional experimental configuration and the diffusion coefficient and partition coefficient calculated from a theoretical model. Glucose was found to diffuse the fastest, followed by inulin and dextran. The partition coefficient was similarly ordered. The rate of diffusion was found to decrease with increasing diffusion time, indicating a dependence on solute concentration. No time variation was e...
Roser JF, Chang YS, Papkoff H, Li CH.A specific and sensitive homologous radioimmunoassay has been developed for equine prolactin, suitable for measuring prolactin concentrations in serum of horses. The sensitivity of the assay ranged from 0.4 to 0.6 ng/ml and the intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation averaged 6.9 and 15.4%, respectively, for five doses of hormone. Cross-reactivity with other mammalian and nonmammalian prolactins and growth hormones was less than 20 and 0.3%, respectively. Cross-reactivity with equine growth hormone was less than 0.07%. Equine serum and pituitary extracts showed parallel dilution-respo...
Gill J, Cedro H, Piróg B.In 8 stallions and 6 mares of pure Arabian breed the diurnal changes in the levels of lactic and pyruvic acid, glucose, and alkaline reserve were studied. All of them showed distinct diurnal changes but they failed to fulfil the criteria of circadian rhythm according to Halberg. It was found that all peaks occurred during the dark phase of the 24 h period except the glucose level in the stallions. Three of the indices studied showed higher mean diurnal levels in the mares than in the stallions. Only in the glucose level the mean values were reversed.
Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Allen JR, Dimauro J.Muscle biopsy samples were collected from the left middle gluteal muscle of horses participating in competitive barrier trials. Twelve horses were biopsied the day before and within 30 minutes of completion of an 800 m barrier trial. A further six horses were sampled the day before, and within 30 minutes of, completion of a 1200 m barrier trial. Serial muscle sections were examined histochemically for myosin adenosine triphosphatase activity after acid preincubation, to demonstrate type I, IIA and IIB fibres. The glycogen content in the individual fibres was assessed using the periodic acid Sc...
Higgins AJ, Lees P.The presence of cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism in carrageenin-induced inflammatory exudate was investigated in ponies using two models. In the first model, an inflammatory response was stimulated by injecting carrageenin into subcutaneously implanted polypropylene tissue cages and exudates were collected at five predetermined times between 3 and 48 h. In the second model, exudates were harvested at 6, 12 and 24 h from carrageenin-impregnated polyester sponges which had also been inserted beneath the skin. Prostaglandin (PG) E2, thromboxane (TX) B2 and the stable breakdo...
Munabi AK, Cassorla FG, D'Agata R, Albertson BD, Loriaux DL, Lipsett MB.Decreased sperm counts and impaired sperm motility are present in a substantial proportion of men with varicocele. Elevations in the temperature of the affected testis, and increased spermatic vein estradiol (E2) concentrations have been found in some of these patients. To investigate the possibility that increases in temperature lead to a pattern of testicular steroidogenesis that results in increased E2 synthesis, we have examined the effects of temperature changes on the activities of four important testicular steroidogenic enzymes. 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), 17-hydro...
Thurmon JC, Steffey EP, Zinkl JG, Woliner M, Howland D.Xylazine given IV at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg to mares caused a significant (P less than 0.05) dose-related increase in serum glucose concentration and urine volume. Serum glucose concentrations as much as 150 mg/dl were recorded in mares after they were given the largest xylazine dose. The greatest urine volume, similar to changes in peak glucose concentration, always occurred during the first hour after dosing with xylazine and averaged 1.82, 3.93, and 5.68 ml/kg/hour after the 0.5-, 1.0-, and 1.5-mg/kg doses, respectively, were given. Urine osmolality and specific gravity were signi...
Silberzahn P, Rashed F, Zwain I, Leymarie P.An homogenate from cortical tissue of mare adrenals was incubated in the presence of tritiated pregnenolone. The (3H) androstenedione and the (3H) testosterone synthesized during the incubation were extracted, purified, and co-crystallized to constant specific activity in the presence of unlabeled carriers. The rate of conversion of pregnenolone to androstenedione and testosterone was of the order of 5 and 0.15 per cent respectively. The high ratio of (3H) androstenedione to (3H) testosterone observed in this study suggests that androstenedione is the main androgen produced by mare adrenals. I...
Straub R, Isler R, Gysin J.The incremental three work loads test as a basis test, and the one work load test, in which one measures the heart rate and the serum lactic acid concentration, lead to the performance index values V4 and V150. These values are of great practical importance in judging the performance capacity, the ability to be trained, the trainings effectivity, and determining the optimal work load for interval training.
Bertone AL, Ralston SL, Stashak TS.Each of 3 digestion trials (3 forage diets) was performed on 2 groups of horses 6 to 12 months after sham operation (group 1; n = 3) or large-colon resection (group 2; n = 5). Diets were alfalfa pellets, alfalfa hay, and grass hay. Feed and fecal analyses were performed to determine apparent digestion of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein and true digestion of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, total plant cell wall, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Additional fecal and metabolic variables determined were percentage of fecal water, total fecal water, metabolic organic m...
Suska M, Brucka-Jastrzebska E, Kawczuga D.This study aimed at determining relationships between the age of the Wielkopolski horses, ATP in whole blood and in the erythrocytes, and between erythrocyte Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity, and serum concentrations of mineral components. ATP was measured in whole blood and in erythrocytes by HPLC method. Serum concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ were measured spectrophotometrically, while Na+ and K+ by flame photometry. In horses aged from 4 to 48 months, a dynamic decrease in ATP activity was found. Erythrocyte Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity decreased proportionally with the decrease in ATP activity. The r...
Escabias MI, Santisteban R, Rubio MD, Tovar P.The correlations between different electrocardiographic variables and plasma concentrations of K, Na and Ca ions were studied in foals of 1 to 14 days of age. The results obtained are only significant in neonate individuals of 1 day of age. Whilst the PQ segment and R wave duration showed a positive linear correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with plasma concentrations of Na and Ca ions respectively, the amplitude of the T wave showed a negative linear correlation (p less than or equal to 0.05) with the K ion. Moreover, the variability in duration of the QT and ST intervals can be explai...
Bhavnani BR, Martin LJ, Baker RD.A mixture of 1-14C-isopentenylpyrophosphate and 3H-dehydroisoandrosterone was injected into a horse fetus intramuscularly during laparotomy, after which maternal urine was collected for 4 days. Steroid conjugates in the urine were extracted with Amberlite XAD-2 resin, hydrolysed and separated into phenolic and neutral fractions. From the phenolic fraction estrone, 17alpha-estradiol, equilin and equilenin were isolated. Only estrone and 17alpha-estradiol contained both 3H and 14C, while the ring B unsaturated estrogens contained only 14C. From the neutral fraction 14C-labeled 3beta-hydroxy-5alp...
Demir C, Brereton RG, Dumasia MC.After oral administration of quinine sulfate to a thoroughbred mare, seven urine samples were obtained over a 45.5 h period. Using gas chromatography -electron impact ionization and positive-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry, quinine and five putative metabolites were detected and tentatively identified in enzyme-hydrolysed post-administration urine; all metabolites involved some form of oxidation. The parent drug could be detected for about 16 h and some phase I biotransformation products for up to 40 h post-administration.
Salvadori MC, Rieser EM, Ribeiro Neto LM, Nascimento ES.The seeds of Guaraná are rich in xanthines and are used for the preparation of guaraná powder which is very commonly given to horses as a 'tonic' in Brazil. In this paper, the xanthine content of guaraná powder was determined, in addition to its clearance time in horses. Thin-layer chromatography was used as a screening procedure and high-performance liquid chromatography was performed to quantify the drugs in both the powder and urine samples. The guaraná powder was found to contain 2.16, 1.10 and 36.78 mg g-1 of theobromine (TB), theophylline (TP) and caffeine (CF), respectively, and in ...
Thomas DE, Beadle RE.The pharmacokinetics of 3-methylindole (3MI) given orally in 2 doses (10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg) to horses were determined. The pharmacokinetic plasma-concentration profiles for 3MI (10- and 20-mg/kg dosages) in horses were represented by a 2-compartment open model with first-order absorption, as determined by nonlinear least-squares regression analysis. Absorption of 3MI at both dosages was rapid. Comparisons of the peak plasma concentrations, the postdistribution half lives, total clearances, and areas under the curve of the plasma-concentration profiles between the 10- and the 20-mg/kg dosages ...
Kharakhonycheva NV, Likhtenshteĭn GI, Shkileva EA, Adamenkova MD.The possible use of EPR spectroscopy (spin labelling) for the study of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase with a silochrome adsorbent is discussed. The rotatory diffusion of nitroxyl labels chemically linked to the enzyme was studied with reference to the time of the enzyme incubation with the adsorbent and the degree of its accumulation on the adsorbent surface. The mobility of nitroxyl radicals attached to the protein globules was shown to increase with time. It was concluded that the conformation of the enzyme molecules changes during their interaction with the adsorbent.
Park J, Shin YO, Choo HY.The propionylpromazine concentrations in plasma after intramuscular administration to horses were determined using gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. After hydrolysis by beta-glucuronidase/arylsulphatase, the parent drug and three metabolites were detected in urine. The metabolites were identified as 2-(1-hydroxypropyl)promazine, 2-(1-propenyl)promazine and 7-hydroxypropionylpromazine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. No N-demethylated or sulphoxidated metabolites of propionylpromazine were observed in the horse urine.
Knoepfli AB.A young standardbred filly became stiff and uncomfortable after racing. A day later, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactic dehydrogenase levels were markedly elevated. Exertional rhabdomyolysis was diagnosed. Limited exercise and a low carbohydrate, high fat diet were prescribed. Eight days later, the filly was raced again without consequences.
Gauvreau GM, Wilson BA, Schnurr DL, Young SS, McDonell WN.The purpose of this study was to develop a technique to measure the oxygen cost of ventilation and the values of ventilatory parameters in seven normal horses rebreathing carbon dioxide (CO2). All the horses responded to increased inspiratory levels of CO2 by increasing their tidal volume (VT) and frequency of breathing (Vf). The mean (SE) oxygen cost litre-1 of ventilation, measured at rates of ventilation greater than 200 litres min-1 was 1.7 (0.04) ml litre-1, similar to that of normal human subjects ventilating submaximally. It was concluded that the CO2 rebreathing test is a practical, no...
Schmid A, Schmid H.In this paper, the metabolism of xenobiotics in the horse, including differences to other species, is discussed. The most important metabolic reactions of phase I (oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis of substrates), as well as of phase II (conjugation of substrates with glucuronic acid, sulphuric acid, acetic acid, alkyl groups, amino acids, amino acid derivatives, glutathione etc.), are discussed and enzymes involved in the metabolic reactions are considered.
Lacombe VA, Hinchcliff KW, Kohn CW, Reed SM, Taylor LE.Exercise depletes muscle glycogen stores, which could subsequently impair performance. Muscle glycogen replenishment is determined by substrate availability. Objective: To study the effects of feeding meals of varying glycaemic responses on blood concentrations of substrates used for glycogenesis in horses with exercise-induced glycogen depletion. Methods: In a 3-way crossover study, 7 horses received each of 3 isocaloric diets for 72 h after undergoing glycogen-depleting exercise: 1) a high soluble-carbohydrate diet, which induced a high-glycaemic (HGI) response; 2 and 3) a low soluble-carboh...
Bull TE, Lindman B, Einarsson R, Zeppezauer M.The binding of Au(CN)2- and Pt(CN)4-2- ions to the coenzyme binding site of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (alcohol : NAD+ oxidoreductase EC 1.1.1.1) has been studied by 35C1 nuclear magnetic relaxation. Longitudinal relaxation rates were analyzed in terms of a simple model and binding constants for Au(CN)2-, Pt(CN)4-2- and C1- were estimated. From a comparison between transverse and longitudinal relaxation rates the correlation time and the quadrupole coupling constant of bound chloride ion were obtained. The quadrupole coupling constant estimated from a simple electrostatic model for chlo...