Topic:Metabolism
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.
[Variations in plasma components in lactating mares at late pregnancy-early lactation (author’s transl)]. In an experiment comparing pregnant then lactating mares with dry non-pregnant mares, the changes in plasma components were studied as indicators of the metabolic utilization of energy (glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate), nitrogen (urea, proteins) or minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium). The mares were fed daily 2 kg concentrate and hay ad libitum. Beta-hydroxybutyrate, magnesium and to a lesser extent glucose were the only constituents whose levels were affected within the period starting one month before and ending one month after foaling. The increase in food in...
Influence of dietary molybdenum on copper metabolism in ponies. The effects of molybdenum ingestion on copper metabolism were investigated in bile duct-cannulated ponies fed diets containing 1.01, 27.4 and 107.3 ppm molybdenum. Copper metabolism was assessed by examination of 64Cu and stable copper excretion in feces, bile and urine. The addition of molybdenum to the diet decreased copper absorption and retention as a consequence of increased excretion of dietary copper in feces and increased excretion of absorbed copper in bile. Only 5% or less of the absorbed copper was excreted in urine regardless of dietary treatment. Biliary molybdenum excretion was o...
In vivo metabolism of [3H]equilin in the pregnant mare. [3H]Equilin [3H-labeled 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10), 7-estratetraen-17-one] was administered iv to a pregnant mare in the 10th month of gestation. Maternal urine was collected for 3 days, and blood samples were taken 35 min and 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after the injection. The half-life of the disappearance of radioactivity from the blood was approximately 2.5 h. Over 90% of the administered dose was excreted in the first 24 h. The urine was extracted, hydrolyzed, and fractionated. The bulk of the radioactive material (75%) was present in the phenolic sulfate fraction from which radiochemically pure equilin...
A physiological approach to fluid and electrolyte therapy in the horse. In this article a physiological approach to fluid therapy is discussed, commencing with examination of fluid distribution in the normal horse. The functions of individual plasma electrolyte concentrations are considered and practical causes of acid-base disturbances discussed. When fluid administration is necessary, selection of the route for fluid administration as well as the type of fluid are important considerations and these must be adjusted to the needs of the individual case. Balanced polyionic solutions appear to be most suitable for general use because normal saline can produce hypoka...
The metabolism of promazine and acetylpromazine in the horse. Promazine hydrochloride and acetylpromazine maleate were administered intravenously at clinical dose levels to horses. In urine from horses given promazine hydrochloride, the parent drug and four metabolites were detected. The two major metabolites, present as conjugates were identified after hydrolysis by beta-glucuronidase/arylsulfatase as 3-hydroxypromazine and 3-hydroxydesmonomethyl-promazine. Conjugated 3-hydroxypromazine has been previously identified as a major metabolite in the horse. Two minor metabolites isolated in this study were primaizine N-oxide and promazine N-oxide sulfoxide. ...
Dietary fat and exercise conditioning effect on metabolic parameters in the horse. Four isocaloric diets containing 4, 8, 12 and 16% dietary fat (as soybean oil) were fed to four horses at four intervals according to a Latin square design. After 3 weeks of conditioning at each interval, diet effects were evaluated by trotting all horses at 3.2 m/sec for 6 hours. Pre- and posttrotting responses were measured in muscle and liver glycogen, serum long-chain fatty acids, serum electrolytes, serum enzymes, serum cholesterol, plasma glucose, packed cell volume and hemoglobin. Dietary fat was highly correlated with exercise-induced plasma glucose changes and with cholesterol concent...
The major metabolite of fentanyl in the horse. Fentanyl, a potent, synthetic narcotic analgesic, has reportedly been used to "dope" racehorses. Urine was collected from a horse dosed with 70 mg of [3H]fentanyl, and the primary metabolite, a water-soluble, amphoteric compound, was isolated by high-pressure liquid chromatography and identified by spectroscopic analysis. This metabolite was found to be N-[1-(2-phenethyl-4-piperidinyl)] malonanilinic acid.
Pancreatic beta-cell function in the fetal foal and mare. Insulin secretion and the factors influencing beta-cell function were investigated in the chronically catheterized fetal foal and mare during the second half of gestation. The response of the fetal beta cells to exogenous glucose was also examined. The mean concentration of insulin in the fetal foal was 7.5 +/- 0.5 (S.E.M.) microunit./ml (n = 20) which was significantly less than the corresponding maternal value of 49.0 +/- 5.0 microunit./ml (n = 20, P < 0.01). The insulin concentration in non-pregnant horses was 24.5 +/- 1.5 microunit./ml (n = 5) which was significantly less than the value...
Effect of pyrrolizidine alkaloid-induced hepatic disease on plasma amino acid patterns in the horse. Plasma amino acid patterns were studied in 6 clinically normal adult horses during the course of hepatic disease induced by feeding them plants containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. At death, there were significant (P less than 0.01) increases in glutamine, proline, tyrosine, asparagine, lysine, histidine, alanine, phenylalanine, methionine, aspartic acid, and ornithine values. There were no significant changes in glycine, valine, isoleucine tryptophan, and arginine values. There were significant (P less than 0.01) decreases in citrulline. Ammonia increased 4-fold. Alpha-Aminoadipic acid and alp...
Selected ion monitoring assay for bromhexine in biological fluids. A method has been developed for quantification of bromhexine in plasma using gas chromatography mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. A deuterium labelled analogue was synthesized and used as the internal standard. To evaluate the gas chromatographic electron capture detection method described earlier, 23 plasma samples have been analysed by both techniques. Although a good correlation was shown, selected ion monitoring was superior to the electron capture detection method for levels below 3 ng ml-1. The mass spectrometric method has also been used to set up a pharmacokinetic study o...
Histochemical properties of muscle fibres types and enzyme activities in skeletal muscles of Standardbred trotters of different ages. Fibre characteristics and enzyme activities were determined for the gluteus, semitendinosus, vastus lateralis and triceps brachii muscles of 55 Standardbred trotters of different ages. Four fibre types (I, IIA, IIB, IIC) were demonstrated by histochemical staining of myofibrillar adenosine triphosphatase after preincubation at different pH values. Type II fibres predominated in all the muscles and the type IIA/IIB ratio was higher in horses over 5 years than in younger horses, except in the vastus in which the IIA/IIB ratio did not change with age. The vastus had the highest proportion of type...
Characterization of gangliosides from equine kidney and spleen. Gangliosides were isolated from equine kidney and spleen, and their carbohydrate and lipid moieties were characterized. Among the long-chain bases, considerable proportions of trihydroxy bases (42.3 to 61.2% of the total bases), in which phytosphingosine was predominant were found in all the ganglioside classes. The other major base was sphingosine. Among the constituent fatty acids, long-chain acids (with a carbon number of more than 20), comprised approximately half the total acids, with some alpha-hydroxy and mono-unsaturated acids. By means of sequential hydrolysis with glycosidases couple...
Absorption, excretion and tissue distribution of stable zinc and 65zinc in ponies. Absorption excretion and tissue distribution of stable Zn and 65Zn in mature ponies were studied in three experiments. In the first experiment, the metabolism of stable, dietary Zn and intravenously administered 65Zn was studied in three ponies in a 3 X 3 Latin square design. The ponies were fed a corn and beet pulp diet containing 35 mg Zn/kg or the same diet with 250 or 520 mg of supplemental Zn as ZnO. The ponies absorbed and retained more stable Zn when fed 250 mg of supplemental Zn that when fed the basal diet alone or the basal diet plus 520 mg of supplemental Zn. The ponies retained mor...
Further studies on the metabolic effects of long distance riding: Golden Horseshoe Ride 1979. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after 80 km and 40 km rides held on consecutive days and analysed for haematocrit, blood glucose and lactate, plasma sodium, potassium, calcium, albumin, free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol, bicarbonate, insulin, cortisol, glucagon, urea, creatinine, uric acid, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. Unusually hot weather probably contributed to haemoconcentration with a significant (P < 0.001) increase in haematocrit and plasma albumin. A fall in blood glucose, with a rise in FFA and glycerol were consistent with long distance riding and were associ...
The disposition and metabolism of the synthetic prostaglandin fluprostenol (ICI 81,008) in the horse. 1. Following single intramuscular doses of [14C]fluprostenol (0.5--2.4 micrograms/kg) to three female horses and to three gelded male horses, radioactivity was present in the plasma within 5 min; peak concn. (0.32--1.30 ng/ml fluprostenol equiv.) occurred 5 to 90 min after injection. Radioactivity was still present in the plasma of the females after three days. About 88% of fluprostenol is bound to plasma proteins. 2. Radioactivity was present in the parotid saliva of the gelded male horses within 10 min. Peak concn. (45--91 pg/ml fluprostenol equiv.) occurred from 5 min to 1 h after injection...
The disposition of calcium within parathyroid tissue. The disposition of 45Ca was studied in equine parathyroid gland slices. This preparation was shown to be viable by its ability to carry out protein synthesis, by the responsiveness of its respiration to effectors of oxidative phosphorylation, and by its calcium-inhibitable PTH secretion. 45Ca accumulates in the slices as the extracellular calcium is raised through the range in which physiological serum calcium concentration lies. The tissue slices behave as if they have no calcium pump: (a) depriving the cells of energy by treatment with antimycin A does not admit more calcium to the tissue, (...
Influence of exercise on serum selenium and peroxide reduction system of racing Standardbreds. Blood samples were obtained from 45 racing Standardbred horses immediately before and immediately after a training jog at a commercial race track to establish reference values for serum selenium and related values of the peroxide reduction system of racing horses. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum selenium increased significantly (P < 0.001), whereas RBC-reduced glutathione decreased significantly (P < 0.01) immediately after exercise. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were not altered by exercise. Serum copper and magnesium were significantly increased (P < 0.01) after exercise...
Selenium and vitamin E in horses. A survey of selenium and vitamin E concentrations in horses was conducted at four breeding farms in New York. There were no significant changes in mean blood selenium concentrations in horses at the three sampling dates whereas vitamin E concentrations underwent seasonal fluctuations. The mean blood selenium concentration in this survey for horses fed local feed was 7.7 microgram/dl. Horses fed commercial feed had a mean blood selenium concentration of 15.6 microgram/dl. A 0.94 correlation coefficient was found between blood glutatione peroxidase activity and blood selenium concentrations in h...
Uptake of nucleotides and catecholamines by chromaffin granules from pig and horse adrenal medulla. The uptake of nucleotides and catecholamines into chromaffin granules from adrenals of pigs and horses is similar to that previously seen in bovine chromaffin granules. The rate of [3H]ATP uptake at 2 mM-ATP concentration was 0.42 +/- 0.06 and 0.15 +/- 0.02 nmol/mg protein/min for pig and horse granules, respectively. The apparent Km's were 1.37 mM for pig granules, 0.89 mM for horse granules, and 1.2 mM for ox granules. The sensitivity of the uptake for nucleotides and catecholamine to specific inhibitors was found to be similar in granules from pig and ox, indicating that the same mechanisms...
Long distance exercise in the horse: Golden Horseshoe Ride 1978. As part of a study of the metabolic effects of long distance riding the results of biochemical analyses of blood samples taken from horses before, immediately after and one hour after an 80 km ride are reported. The results show that the horses were moderately dehydrated, they were working aerobically using fats as metabolic substrates and blood glucose was reduced. There was no evidence of post exercise ketosis and circulating alanine levels fell. Metabolic hormone levels are reported and are related to the availability of substrates for gluconeogenesis. There was evidence of reduced kidney a...
Studies related to the metabolism of anabolic steroids in the horse: the identification of some 16-oxygenated metabolites of 19-nortestosterone. 1. The metabolism of 19-nor[4-14C]testosterone in a thoroughbred horse has been studied and neutral urinary metabolites obtained after enzyme hydrolysis have been investigated by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. 2. 3-Hydroxyestran-17-one, 17 alpha- and 17 beta-nortestosterone, estrane-3,17-diol (two isomers), 3,16-dihydroxyestran-17-one (two isomers), 3,17-dihydroxyestran-16-one (two isomers) and estrane-3,16,17-triol were identified in the neutral urinary extracts.
Changes in blood gas, acid-base and metabolic parameters in horses during three-day event competition. Sixteen horses competing in a three-day event had venous blood samples collected during the speed and endurance test (day 2) to examine changes in blood gas ands acid-base balance, and the concentrations of lactate, pyruvate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, alpha-ketoglutarate and cortisol. Following the roads and tracks and steeplechase phases there was a significant metabolic and respiratory alkalosis despite a rise in lactate. After completion of the cross country section, although there was a significant decrease in total base, there was no significant change in pH from pre-event value...
Cardiorespiratory adjustments to tethered-swimming in the horse. The cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to various levels of tethered-swimming were evaluated in 5 sedentary horses. Cardiac output (Q) and heart rate (HR) correlated highly (r = 0.89 and 0.94 respectively) with work effort (WE) expressed as kg pulled . kg body wt-1 . 10-2. While swimming, stroke volume (SV) was reduced at the lowest workloads, but increased with increasing WE so that at the highest workloads it had returned to the on-land standing SV. Pressures in the pulmonic as well as on both sides of the systemic circulation were considerably elevated by this form of exercise, altho...
The effect of trypsin digestion on the structure and iron-donating properties of transferrins from several species. The effect of trypsin digestion on iron-saturated and iron-free (apo) human, rabbit, bovine, pig and horse tranferrins has been studied. Iron-binding fragments were produced only from iron-saturated pig and bovine transferrins although some cleavage of the polypeptide chain occurred in all cases. The apo-transferrins were generally degraded to a greater extent than the corresponding iron-saturated proteins. The ability of the different transferrins to donate iron to rabbit reticulocytes varied in the order rabbit approximately pig greater than human approximately horse greater than bovine. Try...