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.
Mattioli M, Galeati G, Seren E.Prostaglandin F-2 alpha (PGF-2 alpha) receptors of bovine and equine corpora lutea (C.L.) were studied. From both the equilibrium binding data and the dissociation kinetics behaviour, two affinity classes of receptors are evident in the mare, with apparent dissociation constants (Kd) of 1,5 x 10(-9) M and 3.5 x 10(-8) M. Bovine PGF-2 alpha receptors present a homogeneous population of binding sites with Kd = 1 x 10(-8) M. Both bovine and equine C.L. receptors bind PGF-2 alpha in a specific manner; only 13, 14-dihydro-PGF-2 alpha considerably cross-reacts with these receptors. Since in the mare...
Thijssen HH, van den Bogaard AE, Wetzel JM, Maes JH, Muller AP.The pharmacokinetics of racemic warfarin were studied in 6 adult horses. After IV administration, the plasma concentration of warfarin showed a biphasic decline in time. Analysis of the data, according to 2-compartment kinetics, revealed the following constants: biological half-life was 13.3 hours, apparent volume of distribution was 0.46 L X kg-1, body clearance was 25.3 ml X hour-1 X kg-1. Warfarin was bound (91.5%) to plasma proteins. Unchanged warfarin was not detected in the urine. Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract was almost complete. Concentrations of warfarin in tissue were ex...
Harrington DD, Page EH.Acute vitamin D toxicosis was diagnosed in 2 horses fed a grain ration containing 1,102,311 IU of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)/kg (500,000 IU/lb) for about 30 days. Horse 1 died acutely with extensive mineralization of cardiovascular and other soft tissues. Horse 2, which had severe clinical signs and clinicopathologic changes of toxicosis, was treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and recovered in about 6 months. In an experimental study, the toxicity of ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol was compared in 2 horses (No. 3 and 4) given the respective vitamins at a daily d...
Bauer JE, Ransone WD.Alterations in the fatty acid distribution of total lipid extracts and 4 of the major lipid subclasses of serum in ponies fasted overnight and for 4 and 7 days were determined. Although increases in 16:0, 16:1, and 18:3 omega 3 were observed, decreased amounts of 18:0 and 18:2 omega 6 combined to cause no significant change in the saturated to unsaturated fatty acid ratio in the total extracts. Phospholipid became somewhat preferentially enriched in saturated fatty acids due to a decrease in 18:1, although this response was variable. The free fatty acid and triglyceride fractions both showed i...
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.
Parks CM, Manohar M.Transmural distribution of myocardial blood flow and coronary vasodilator reserve (15-microns-diam radionuclide-labeled microspheres) was studied in 11 adult, healthy ponies at rest and during moderate and severe exercise performed on a treadmill (heart rate 56 +/- 4, 154 +/- 3, and 225 +/- 7 beats . min-1, respectively.). Exercise resulted in a marked increase in cardiac output, mean aortic pressure, right ventricular (RV) systolic and end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure, and the maximum rate of rise of LV pressure LV (dP/dtmax). Accompanying these changes was...
Kowalczyk DF, Beech J.The pharmacokinetics of the anti-convulsant phenytoin were investigated in clinically healthy horses after oral (p.o.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration. A single dose of phenytoin (8.8 mg/kg body weight) was given i.v. as a bolus to nine horses and one horse received 13.2 mg/kg. A two-compartment open model was used to describe the disposition of phenytoin. Four of the horses that received an i.v. dose (three at 8.8 mg/kg and one at 13.2 mg/kg) were then given the same dose 3 days later by the oral route. Phenytoin achieved a peak concentration in serum within 1-4 h after p.o. administrat...
Donné-Op den Kelder GM, de Haas GH, Egmond MR.At alkaline pH porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 is known to bind two Ca2+ ions per protein molecule. One Ca2+ ion is strongly bound to the active site and is essential for enzyme activity. A second Ca2+ ion binds more weakly to the protein and improves the affinity of the enzyme for lipid-water interfaces severalfold at high pH values. A group having a pK around 6 controls enzyme binding to lipid-water interfaces in the absence of Ca2+. By use of proton titration techniques this group is now identified to be a carboxylate having an abnormally high pK. Its pK shifts to a value around 4.5 in ...
Davies JV, Gerring EL.Motility patterns in the equine small intestine were investigated in eight ponies. Muscular activity was assessed by means of extramural strain gauge transducers, bi-polar electrodes and in three of the animals, fitted with Thiry-Vella loops, the transit of fluid. Circular muscle contractions were preceded by spiking superimposed on the slow wave and fluid transit in the loops correlated with both these events.
Combie JD, Nugent TE, Tobin T.Morphine could be detected in horses dosed with 0.1 mg of drug/kg of body weight for up to 48 hours in blood and 144 hours in urine. This dose of morphine elicited no observable effects and is a suggested analgesic dose. Computer analysis revealed that a 3-compartment open system was the best fitting model with a serum half life (t1/2(beta)) of 87.9 minutes and a urine t1/2(beta) of 101.1 minutes. Binding to equine serum proteins was linear over a drug concentration range of 3.88 X 10(-5)M to 3.50 X 10(-8)M and averaged 31.6%. In RBC-partitioning experiments, 78.1% of the drug was found in the...
McMiken DF.Although different physiological and behavioural attributes are needed for various types of equine competition, successful racing depends primarily on the animal's metabolic ability to convert chemical energy to mechanical energy--the function of muscle. Components of these energetic processes include the rate, efficiency and interaction of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism in muscle and the supply and utilisation of fuel. In anaerobic work like racing, fatigue processes may be largely regarded as a function of an intramuscular fuel (phosphogen) depletion, despite the fact that substrates are s...
Marsh MV, Caldwell J, Sloan TP, Smith RL, Horner M, Moss MS.14C-Fenclofenac (2-(2'-4'-dichlorophenoxy)-phenylacetic acid) was administered orally to horses, and urinary metabolites investigated by chromatography. Fenclofenac was rapidly absorbed and eliminated, with a plasma half-life (t1/2) of 2.3 h, with 83.2 and 85.8% of the dose being recovered in the urine in 0-24 h. The major urinary metabolite was the ester glucuronide (58.8, 70.0% dose), and evidence is presented that this metabolite undergoes a structural rearrangement to give beta-glucuronidase-resistant isomers. The other 14C-labelled components in horse urine were unchanged fenclofenac (13....
Glade MJ, Krook L, Schryver HF, Hintz HF.Epiphyseal and articular cartilages were examined in pony foals treated with intramuscular injections of either 0.5 mg dexamethasone per 100 kg bodyweight daily for 3, 8 or 11 months, or 5.0 mg per 100 kg for 11 months, and in horse foals treated with 5.0 mg per 100 kg for 20 weeks. The proximal femoral growth plates exhibited increased spatial separation between chondrocyte columns, narrowed zones of disorganized columnar and hypertrophic cartilage, abnormal penetration of hypertrophic cartilage by metaphyseal capillaries, retained cartilage in the spongiosa, distal terminal plate formation, ...
Brown MP, Kelly RH, Stover SM, Gronwall R.Six healthy adult mares were given a single IV injection of trimethoprim (TMP)-sulfadiazine (SDZ) at a dosage rate of 2.5 mg of TMP/kg of body weight and 12.5 mg of SDZ/kg. Serum, synovial, peritoneal, and urine TMP-SDZ concentrations were measured serially over a 48-hour period. The highest measured mean concentrations of TMP and SDZ were found in the first (0.5 hour) sample of serum, synovial fluid, and peritoneal fluid. The mean peak concentrations of TMP and SDZ averaged 4.37 micrograms/ml and 21.81 micrograms/ml for serum, 2.95 micrograms/ml and 15.31 micrograms/ml for synovial fluid, and...
Bayly WM, Gabel AA, Barr SA.Seven healthy, unexercised, previously trained, adult Standardbred horses were allotted to 2 groups and trained 78 days on a treadmill set at a 7 degree 30' angle. The groups were trained on different schedules, and the effects of training on heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, arteriovenous oxygen difference, systemic blood pressure, and venous lactic acid were determined. Measurements were made at rest, during exercise on the treadmill at rates of 55 m/min, 75 m/min, 100 m/min, and 154 m/min, and at 5 minutes after exercise (standardized exercise test). Heart rate and cardiac output d...
Leblová S, Galociová J, Cerovská N.The studied herbicides (terbutylazine, simazine) inhibit the activity of plant, animal, and yeast alcohol dehydrogenases. The inhibition constant Ki for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isolated from peas and bakers' yeast equals approximately 10(-4) M, and that for ADH isolated from horse liver is of the order of 10(-5) M. The character of inhibition for all the herbicides studied for the reaction catalyzed by pea, liver, and yeast ADH is always noncompetitive toward ethanol and competitive with respect to NAD. The inhibition constants for the enzyme isolated from peas are pH independent. The inte...
Tait AD, Hodge LC, Allen WR.The production of equilin and the other ring B-unsaturated estrogens by the pregnant mare is anomalous in that they are biosynthesised by a cholesterol-independent pathway. Fetal horse gonads were incubated with tritiated sodium acetate and radiochemically pure 3 beta-hydroxy-5,7-pregnadien-20-one and 3 beta-hydroxy-5,7-androstadien-17-one were isolated. A fetal gonad--placental system is proposed for equilin production, 3 beta-hydroxy-5,7-pregnadien-20-one being a precursor for 3 beta-hydroxy-5,7-androstadien-17-one in the fetal gonad and the latter being the precursor of equilin in the place...
Tamanini C, Giordano N, Chiesa F, Seren E.Plasma cortisol variations have been determined by radioimmunoassay in 5 stallions during mating and in 2 teasers during oestrous female exposure. In all the animals, cortisol plasma levels consistently increase (71.1 ng/ml vs 44.0 and 63.0 ng/ml vs 35.1, in the stallions and in the teasers, respectively) 7-30 min after female exposure; 120 min after exposure, cortisol concentrations are again low.
Morris DD, Garcia M.Adult horses showed a mild diurnal variation in equine plasma thyroxine (T4) concentrations, but not triiodothyronine (T3). Plasma T4 concentrations tended to be higher between 5 PM and 8 PM than at 8 AM. Increases in plasma T4 and T3 were similar in adult healthy horses given 5, 10, or 20 IU of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The T4 peaked at approximately twice (2.0 +/- 0.4 times) as high as the base line at 6 to 12 hours after the TSH was given. The greatest change from base line T3 occurred at 1 to 3 hours after the TSH was given, but the magnitude of increase was widely variable (4.36 ...
Lane VM, Merritt AM.In 4 healthy horses and 1 Welsh pony, fractional renal excretions of phosphorus (FEp) determined from 9 hourly time collections taken over a 24-hour period were compared to assess whether a single-sample collection would be an accurate indicator of the daily FEp. The mean FEp for each animal varied from 0.115% to 0.302%; the 2 animals with the highest values were significantly different (P less than 0.05) from the 3 with the lowest values. Individual variation within animals was not great, however, because it was calculated that the 24-hour FEp value could be found within +/- 0.087% of the sin...
Igwe OJ, Blake JW.The disposition kinetics of pemoline after iv and oral administration of 2.4 mg/kg of the drug were studied. The elimination half-life was 39.4 hr. The mean volume of distribution was 1.5 liters/kg indicating extensive tissue distribution and sequestration for an amphoteric drug. Plasma protein binding determined by in vitro equilibrium dialysis was concentration dependent. The mean binding capacity was found to be 0.80 mu-mol/g, an apparent dissociation constant of 3.73 X 10(-5) molar, and a total plasma protein concentration of 64.7 g/liter. The mean systemic availability by oral administrat...
Slone DE, Purohit RC, Ganjam VK, Lowe JL.Three ponies and 1 horse were bilaterally adrenalectomized (BADX). The initial hypoadrenal episode after BADX was reversed with 20 mg of dexamethasone (DXM) IM (n = 2) or 20 mg of triamcinolone (TMC) IM (n = 2). Nine hypoadrenal crises were reversed with 20 mg of DXM given IM (n = 4) or 20 mg of TMC given IM (n = 5). Sodium and chloride retention and potassium excretion were documented based on changes in serum electrolytes and urinary excretion. Eight intact adult horses were randomly assigned to 2 groups to study the effects of a single IM injection of DXM (0.044 mg/kg of body weight) or TMC...
Billah MM, Lapetina EG.Stimulation of horse platelets with platelet-activating factor (PAF) induces a rapid degradation of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. Addition of 0.1 microM PAF for 5 sec to platelets prelabeled with 32P induces a 50% loss of [32P]PtdIns(4,5)P2. 32P-Labeled phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate (PtdIns4P) and [32P]phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) also are decreased, albeit at a slower rate. Loss of 32P radioactivity correlates with a net loss of fatty acids from both polyphosphoinositides. Stimulation of platelets with PAF also produces formation of [32P]phosphatidic acid and ...
Georgiev P, Petkov PI, Georgiev Kh, Bŭrzev G.Parallel physiologic, biochemical, and hormonal investigations of racehorses were carried out within the time period of a training cycle. The changes found in the physiologic and biochemical indices were said to be in a general relationship with the amount of physical training of the animals, at the same time reflecting some seasonal variations. The changes in the level of T-4 and cortisol were found to be in direct relationship with the continuation of training.
Wertz PW, Colton SW, Downing DT.The acylglucosylceramides were isolated from the polar lipids of horse epidermis and examined to determine whether the component omega-hydroxyacids are straight chained as in the corresponding lipids from pig epidermis or branched as in horse sebum. The hydroxyacids from horse epidermis were found to be almost entirely straight chained compounds. The results indicate that sebaceous glands, although derived from epidermal cells, have evolved independent pathways of lipid metabolism.
Littlejohn A, Blackmore DJ.The occasions, position and relative concentration of LDH iso-enzymes in the blood tissues of the thoroughbred horse were determined. Locomotor muscles possess a high concentration of LDH 5 whereas non-locomotor muscles have a low concentration of this iso-enzyme.
Scheidegger E, Geissbühlerl U, Doherr MG, Lang J.Bone scintigraphy is a very sensitive diagnostic tool to detect elevated bone metabolism. In cases of fractures and fissure fractures, the radiopharmaceutical uptake in the bone is said to be increased within a few hours after the injury. In this retrospective study, the scintigraphic uptake characteristics at the fracture site of 36 horses with radiographically confirmed fractures or fissure fractures were evaluated. Uptake ratios between the fracture region and adjacent normal bone or soft tissue activity respectively were calculated and compared to different anamnestic and radiographic data...
Davicco MJ, Faulconnier Y, Coxam V, Dubroeucq H, Martin-Rosset W, Barlet JP.There is a high incidence of bony pathology in race horses. Thus, plasma GH, IGF-1, osteocalcin (OC), calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphorus (P) concentrations were measured in 12 healthy Selle Français foals and their dams during the first five months after birth. Plasma IGF-1 and OC concentrations were higher in foals than in mares (336 +/- 25 vs 230 +/- 18 ng/ml, P < 0.05; 52.5 +/- 3.2 vs 4.9 +/- 0.1 ng/mg, P < 0.01, respectively). A significant positive linear relationship could be established between these two parameters in foals (IGF-1 = 19 + 0.619 OC; P < 0.05). Another strikin...
Balssa F, Fischer M, Bonnaire Y.5α-Estrane-3β,17α-diol is the major metabolite of nandrolone in horse urine. The presence of 5α-estrane-3β,17α-diol in female and gelding urines is prohibited by Racing Rules and its natural presence in male urine led regulation authorities to establish a concentration threshold of 45 ng/mL. This paper describes a rapid, simple and stereoselective synthesis of 5α-estrane-3β,17α-diol, providing horseracing laboratories with an essential reference material for their antidoping performance.
Wittek T, Sobiraj A.In the present study the concentrations of L-carnitine (total carnitine, free carnitine, and acyl carnitine) and several parameters of the lipid metabolism were measured during the estrus in 10 broodmares. The carnitine concentrations varied in a wide range between the mares. The differences of the mean carnitine concentrations during the estrus did not reach the level of significance (P < 0.05). There was no relationship between the concentrations of total and free carnitine to the follicle size; however, the concentration of acyl carnitine was significantly correlated (r = -0.42). Because...
Möstl E.In the pregnant mare two different groups of oestrogens are produced by the placenta. The precursor of "classical" oestrogens (oestrone, oestradiol-17 beta and oestradiol-17 alpha) is dehydroepiandrosterone which originates from the fetal gonads. The ring B unsaturated oestrogens (equilin and equilenin and their derivatives) derive from farnesyl pyrophosphate by a pathway not involving cholesterol.
Condon WA, Ganjam VK, Kenney RM.Corpora lutea (CL) from 7 mares were sliced and incubated for 2 h with ovine LH and various sympathomimetic agonists and blockers. None of these compounds was able to cause a significant increase in either progesterone or total progestagens by the luteal tissue. This is in contrast to earlier studies with bovine luteal tissue, and indicates that the equine CL is more refractory to exogenous stimulation than in the bovine CL.
Eagle MT, Koch DB, Whalen JP, Hintz HF, Krook L.The left thoracic limb was immobilized in a plaster cast in 6 grade weanling ponies for 6 weeks. Two ponies were injected intramuscularly each day with 2.4 micrograms of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D3] per kg bodyweight, two with 1.2 micrograms and two received no injections. Immobilization of 25(OH)D3 treatment had no significant effect on mineral metabolism. Immobilization resulted in significantly decreased weight and specific gravity of metacarpus III (MCIII). Histologic examination and triple fluorochrome incorporation showed that the osteopenia was caused by atrophy of osteoblasts w...
McKinney AR, Ridley DD, Suann CJ.After oral administration to a thoroughbred gelding, the anabolic steroid norethandrolone was converted into a complex mixture of oxygenated metabolites. These metabolites were extracted from the urine, deconjugated by methanolysis and converted to their O-methyloxime trimethylsilyl derivatives. Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis indicated the major metabolites to be 19-norpregnane-3,16,17-triols, 19-norpregnane-3,17,20-triols and 3,17-dihydroxy-19-norpregnan-21-oic acids. Some minor metabolites were also detected.
Greiner C, Cavalier E, Remy B, Gabriel A, Farnir F, Gajewski Z, Carstanjen B.The effect of pregnancy on bone metabolism was investigated in healthy mares. Venous blood samples were collected 7 times from 19 multiparous mares starting at 20-weeks pre-parturition, continuing 6 times in 4-week intervals, including the week of parturition and one week after parturition. Serum concentrations of osteocalcin (OC) and carboxy-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) were determined. Measurement cycles and age had a significant (p < 0.01) influence on OC and CTX-I values. Pregnancy influenced bone metabolism with peak bone formation and resorption values...
Foster CV, Harris RC, Pouret EJ.After an oral dose of 10 g of L-carnitine the plasma concentrations of free and total carnitine increased in five yearling thoroughbred horses, reaching a peak two to four hours after administration, but in two horses there was no increase. In the five which responded, the mean (+/- sd) peak increase in total carnitine concentration was 15.1 +/- 6.9 mumol/litre from a predose mean of 18.8 +/- 3.4 mumol/litre, and the mean peak increase in free carnitine concentration was 13.5 +/- 3.1 mumol/litre from a pre-dose mean concentration of 12.5 +/- 2.2 mumol/litre. These changes were similar to those...