The physiology of horses encompasses the study of the biological functions and processes that occur within the equine body. This includes the examination of various systems such as the cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, digestive, and nervous systems. Understanding equine physiology is essential for comprehending how horses adapt to different environmental conditions, perform physical activities, and respond to health challenges. Research in this field often focuses on the mechanisms of energy metabolism, thermoregulation, and muscle function during exercise, as well as the physiological responses to stress and disease. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse aspects of equine physiology, providing insights into the biological processes that support the health and performance of horses.
Granon S.Pig and horse colipases contain three tyrosine residues. In addition, horse colipase possesses a tryptophan residue. Some of the tyrosine residues are involved in the association of colipase and a bile salt micelle. The present report demonstrates that the aromatic residues responsible for colipase fluorescence are in an aqueous environment. In the presence of bile salt micelles, changes in colipase fluorescence properties indicate that the intrinsic fluorophores are located in a more hydrophobic environment upon colipase-micelle complex formation. In addition, the fluorescence of an NBD group...
Rose RJ.Over the last 10 years, there has been a great increase in information on the physiological effects of endurance exercise in horses reflecting the increase in popularity of endurance riding throughout the world. This review, which is in two parts, examines energy considerations, fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, hormonal and metabolic changes, muscle function, renal and hepatic function, haematological changes and clinical problems encountered in endurance rides. Additionally, relevant information from studies in man is included.
Cahill JI, Goulden BE.This study confirmed that neurogenic muscle pathology exists in intrinsic laryngeal muscles supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerves in horses subclinically and clinically affected with laryngeal hemiplegia. An important additional observation was the occurrence in three out of four laryngeal hemiplegic horses of neurogenic muscle changes in a hindlimb muscle, the extensor digitorum longus, a muscle supplied by another long peripheral nerve. This finding suggests that a polynenropathy exists in laryngeal hemiplegic horses, and supports the classification of this disease as a distal axonopath...
Sexton WL, Erickson HH.Cardiopulmonary responses of four ponies were monitored during standard exercise tests (SET), before and after beta-adrenergic receptor blockade with propranolol. The SET consisted of four 5 min increments of increasing speed from 1.0 to 2.8 m/sec on a treadmill at a 7 degrees incline. Data were collected at rest, throughout the SET and recovery. Administration of propranolol to ponies at rest had no effect on cardiopulmonary function. During the SET, increases in heart rate, mean pulmonary artery flow velocity (an index of cardiac output) and right ventricular dP/dt (an index of myocardial co...
Franco RM, Ousey JC, Cash RS, Rossdale PD, Silver M.An electronic sphygmomanometer which functions on oscillometric principles, was used to measure arterial blood pressure in foals. Its accuracy was assessed by comparison with results obtained by direct measurement in anaesthetised pony foals, aged 34 to 64 days. Correlations between data obtained by the two methods were highly significant but the sphygmomanometric readings were consistently lower than those obtained by direct measurement. An equation was derived from the pooled values for mean, systolic and diastolic pressure measurements. This was used as a correction factor when the oscillom...
McClintock SA, Hutchins DR, Brownlow MA.In order to determine optimum tank temperature, nine horses were allocated randomly to three groups and placed in a flotation tank at temperatures of 28 degrees C, 32 degrees C and 36 degrees C. Their progress was monitored by subjective and objective clinical measurements and a variety of laboratory parameters. A 'reacclimatisation crisis' following removal from the tank was observed in most horses after immersion for 21 days and it was concluded that a tank temperature of 36 degrees C provided maximum patient comfort and minimum homoeostatic disturbance.
Silvia PJ, Squires EL, Nett TM.Four groups of mares, representing anestrus (AN; n = 8), early transition (ET; n = 7), late transition (LT; n = 8) and estrus (EST; n = 12) were used to examine changes in the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary during the period of transition from winter anestrus into the breeding season. Mares were of mixed breeding, between the ages of 3 and 20 years, and had shown normal patterns of estrous behavior and ovulation during the breeding season previous to this experiment. Hypothalamic content of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and anterior pituitary content of luteinizing hormone (LH) an...
Radin MJ, Eubank MC, Weiser MG.Anemia was induced in three groups of horses by moderate or severe acute hemorrhage, or by acetyl phenylhydrazine-induced hemolysis (Groups I, II, and III, respectively). Serial hemograms were done on a multichannel automated blood cell counter with histogram capability. Changes in hematocrit, mean cell volume, erythrocyte number, red cell distribution width (RDW), and standard deviation of erythrocyte volume were examined over time. Significant increases in mean cell volume were first detectable by days 17, 20, and 14 and reached maximum by days 43, 41, and 29, in Groups I, II, and III, respe...
Cahill JI, Goulden BE.Individual nerve fibres were isolated from the recurrent laryngeal and some distal hindlimb nerves, in an investigation of equine laryngeal hemiplegia. One hundred teased fibres were obtained from each of three sampling sites on both left and right recurrent laryngeal nerves, from 15 Thoroughbred horses. These fibres were graded descriptively and internode lengths measured. A distal distribution of pathology was demonstrated in all groups studied, but was most severe in the clinical group of horses. The predominant change was one of short thinly myelinated internodes interspersed amongst norma...
Sedgwick AD, Morris T, Russell BA, Lees P.Percoll gradients have been used to separate relatively pure populations of viable equine polymorphonuclear (PMN) and mononuclear (MN) cells. In preliminary studies, a continuous density gradient of 70% Percoll solution was used to separate two distinct leucocyte-rich bands. After measurement of the density of each band on the continuous gradient, discontinuous Percoll gradients, using 60% and 75% Percoll solutions, were used to provide a rapid means of separating PMN and MN cells. The yield of viable cells per ml of blood was 3.0 X 10(6) and 3.2 X 10(6) for MN and PMN cells, respectively. Cor...
The Journal of nutritionNovember 1, 1986
Volume 116, Issue 11 2142-2147 doi: 10.1093/jn/116.11.2142
Schryver HF, Oftedal OT, Williams J, Soderholm LV, Hintz HF.Changes in the mineral composition of mare milk during lactation were studied. Milk samples were obtained from five Thoroughbred mares one to three times weekly from the first to the eighth week of lactation and from two of the mares for an additional 8 wk. Samples averaging 500 mL were obtained after oxytocin was administered to the mares. Each sample was analyzed for total solids, ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper and zinc. The concentration of all constituents except sodium and potassium decreased throughout lactation. The rates of decline of ash, calcium, phosp...
Patterson WH, Brown CM.Serial blood samples were obtained from 16 Standardbred foals from time of birth to postpartum day 28. Sera were obtained and analyzed for gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate transaminase, and immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Presuckle colostrum from the respective mares of these foals was analyzed for GGT activity. Mean serum aspartate transaminase activities were significantly increased above presuckle values by postpartum hour 48 (P less than 0.01) and increased gradually over the first 14 days. Mean serum IgG concentrations were significantly greater than presuckle values by 5 hours after foa...
Firth EC, Nouws JF, Driessens F, Schmaetz P, Peperkamp K, Klein WR.The plasma penicillin concentrations were determined in 5 horses given an IV injection of sodium penicillin G; plasma penicillin concentrations were also determined in a crossover experiment, where animals were given procaine penicillin G subcutaneously at 1 site and IM at 4 sites. The mean penicillin plasma peak concentration and bioavailability were highest after the drug was injected in the neck and biceps musculature. Injections in the gluteal muscle and in the subcutaneous sites resulted in similar, but lower, more persistent penicillin plasma concentrations and a lower bioavailability th...
Smith PJ, Samuelson DA, Brooks DE, Whitley RD.Normal drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the equine eye occurred through conventional and unconventional routes. To determine the degree of uveoscleral outflow in the pony, 1- and 3-microns (diam) microspheres were perfused through the anterior chamber for 60 and 90 minutes. Two eyes were treated with pilocarpine before perfusion of spheres to observe any effect on outflow. Presence of spheres was detected by scanning electron microscopy and verified by light microscopy. By 60 minutes of the perfusion, 1- and 3-microns spheres thoroughly infiltrated the anterior uveal trab...
Greene SA, Thurmon JC, Tranquilli WJ, Benson GJ.Eight ponies were anesthetized with a solution containing 50 mg of guaifenesin, 1 mg of ketamine, and 0.5 mg of xylazine X ml-1 of 5% dextrose in water. Anesthesia was induced by IV injection (1.1 ml X kg-1), followed by continuous IV infusion at 2.75 ml X kg-1 X hr-1. Heart rate, rate-pressure product, mean pulmonary artery pressure, and standard bicarbonate were not significantly changed throughout the study. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures and left ventricular stroke work index were significantly decreased at 5 and 15 minutes after a bolus of the anesthetic solution was inj...
Valberg S.The glycogen depletion patterns in the gluteus muscle of Standardbred horses were studied under different trotting intensities. After racing significant glycogen depletion was found in all Type I and IIA fibres and in a varying percentage of Type IIB fibres, depending on the individual horse. When horses performed exercise over a short distance (5 to 8 km) at three different speeds, glycogen depletion was difficult to detect for the faster speeds (10 and 8 m/sec) but notably involved a major proportion of Type I fibres at the slowest speed (6 m/sec). When exercise was prolonged over a greater ...
Baalsrud KJ, Overnes G.Fifteen horses used for serum production were maintained on low vitamin E and selenium diets. They were divided into four groups receiving: Group 1 no supplements, Group 2 vitamin E, Group 3 selenium and Group 4 both vitamin E and selenium. The humoral immune response to novel antigens, such as tetanus toxoid and equine influenza virus, was increased in groups receiving either vitamin E or selenium/vitamin E. No effects were recorded on the titres against Escherichia coli or the levels of immunoglobulin G.
Turrentine MA, Sculley PW, Green EM, Johnson GS.Two sibling miniature horses, a male and a female, had a normal 1-stage prothrombin time and a prolonged activated-partial thromboplastin time (APTT). The addition of as little as 5% of a normal equine plasma pool to the plasma samples of both horses shortened their prolonged APTT to within normal limits. Coagulation factor analysis revealed deficiencies in factor XII (12 and 13 U/dl, control population 77 to 128 U/dl), when determined with a feline factor XII-deficient plasma substrate, but normal concentrations (119 and 96 U/dl) when a human factor XII-deficient plasma substrate was used. De...
Ramos MI, Hermosura ME, Nakabayashi T.Horse, calf and bovine serum were successfully used as human serum substitutes in the in vitro cultivation of Plasmodium falciparum. Positive results were obtained only after gradually adapting the parasites to the substitute serum. Adapted lines were established within 4-5 weeks. 10% horse serum was observed to be the best substitute with growth rates comparable or even surprising that obtained in human serum. Pure calf or bovine serum supported stable growths of 20-30% less which was enhanced to comparable levels after addition of 1% glucose-peptone to the medium. Direct transfers of adapted...
Russell MA, Rodiek AV, Lawrence LM.The effects of meal frequency and fasting on selected plasma free amino acids (PFAA) was studied in horses. Six 22-mo-old Quarter Horses were used in a replicated 3 X 3 Latin-square design in which each horse received one meal per day (1M), two meals per day (2M) or six meals per day (6M) for 2 wk. A complete pelleted ration was fed at a rate of 1.75% of body weight daily. The consumption of a meal by the horses fed 1M and 2M daily was followed by an increase (P less than .05) in plasma methionine. The highest levels were observed at 5 h and 3 h in the 1M and 2M treatments, respectively. The h...
Michel TH, Rossdale PD, Cash RS.Plasma progesterone levels were measured daily to determine the accuracy of diagnosing ovulation by rectal palpation carried out every other day; 81.5 per cent mares injected with human chorionic gonadotrophin showed increases of progesterone more than 1 ng/ml by 72 h after injection compared with 65 per cent of mares injected with gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) or saline. Mating at ovulation achieved a 74 per cent pregnancy rate in mares given hCG compared with 50 per cent given GnRH and 45 per cent controls. Diagnosis of ovulation per rectum on the basis of a pit in the ovarian surfa...
Al-Modhefer AK, Atherton JC, Garland HO, Singh HJ, Walker J.Single-nephron and whole-kidney function were studied in female rats with corticomedullary nephrocalcinosis, and in animals where the lesion had been prevented either by a dietary magnesium supplement or by using a diet with a calcium:phosphorus ratio in excess of 1. At the single-nephron level, rats with nephrocalcinosis had prolonged tubular fluid transit times. Proximal transit time was 19.42 +/- 1.98 (mean +/- S.E. of mean) vs. 11.58 +/- 0.19 s for controls; distal transit time was 62.64 +/- 9.16 vs. 31.50 +/- 1.03 s for controls. Although single-nephron function is altered in nephrocalcin...
White NA, Suarez M.Triceps intracompartmental pressure was measured in the lowermost limb of the recumbent horse during the initial period of recumbency during elective surgical procedures in 11 horses. Intramuscular pressure, using an IM catheter, was measured with the thoracic limbs in 4 different positions, including (I) table-contact limb unadvanced-unsupported free limb, (II) table-contact limb unadvanced-supported free limb, (III) table-contact limb advanced cranially, unsupported free limb, and (IV) table-contact limb advanced cranially, supported free limb. Pressure was measured in the 4 positions with a...
Byars TD, Greene CE, Kemp DT.Warfarin-induced anticoagulation and reversal of the induced anticoagulation by vitamin K1 were evaluated in 4 mature horses. Each horse was given warfarin IV until the prothrombin (PT) time was prolonged by approximately 1.5 times the predosing base-line value. In experiment 1, we evaluated the time required for PT to return to the predosing value (PT reversal time) after warfarin administration was discontinued. Between each experiment, a 1-week rest period was allowed. In experiment 2, two doses of vitamin K1 (100 mg/dose) were administered IM 6 hours apart, and the PT was monitored hourly ...
Herman EH, Knapton A, Liu Y, Lipshultz SE, Estis J, Todd J, Woodward RA, Cochran T, Zhang J, Poirier MC.Cardiac troponins serve as serum biomarkers of myocardial injury. The current study examined the influence of age on serum concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). An ultrasensitive immunoassay was used to monitor cTnI concentrations in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and Erythrocebus patas monkeys of different ages. The mean cTnI concentrations were highest in 10-day-old rats compared to 25-, 40-, and 80-day-old SD rats. Cardiomyocyte remodeling was apparent in hearts from 10-day-old SD rats as evident by hypercellularity, irregularly shaped nuclei, and moderate numbers of myocytes undergoing mi...
Gherardi PB, Lindsay DR.Groups of 50 ewes were injected with serum from pregnant mares on 5 occasions, 3 months apart, and ovulation rate was estimated at laparoscopy. In Exp. 1, new ewes were used at each time and 3 dose rates (identical to 400, 630 and 1000 i.u. PMSG) were studied. In Exp. 2, the same ewes were used throughout and only 1 dose was given (1000 i.u.). In both experiments the response in ovulation rate of ewes varied significantly throughout the year, with the lowest response in spring (September) and the highest in autumn (March). The ewes in Exp. 2 were as responsive at the end as at the beginning of...
Hughes SB, Quan M, Guthrie A, Schulman M.The insulin-like growth factor system (insulin-like growth factor 1, insulin-like growth factor 2, insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor and six insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins) and insulin are essential to muscle metabolism and most aspects of male and female reproduction. Insulin-like growth factor and insulin play important roles in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and the maintenance of cell differentiation in mammals. In order to better understand the local factors that regulate equine physiology, such as muscle metabolism a...
Schryver HF, Meakim DW, Lowe JE, Williams J, Soderholm LV, Hintz HF.The effect of level of protein intake on growth and calcium metabolism was studied in 24 foals. Starting at four months old, the foals were fed one of three diets containing all nutrients, with the exception of protein, at levels recommended by the United States National Research Council Subcommittee on Horse Nutrition for a 12 month period. The protein levels in the three diets were 9 per cent (low protein) 14 per cent (NRC recommended level) and 20 per cent (high protein). The foals fed the low protein diet were changed to the high protein diet after 140 days when they were nine months old. ...
Heffron B, Benoit M, Bishop J, Costello S, Hurt L, Simpson L, Taddei L, Kline K, Negrusz A.During prolonged strenuous exercise, racehorses can experience acidemia. To counteract this phenomenon, trainers can administer blood alkalizing agents that raise the plasma pH and total carbon dioxide (TCO2) concentration. In Illinois, the administrative threshold for TCO2 in plasma is 37.0 mmol/L. Because accuracy in the reported measurement of TCO2 must be ensured, uncertainty measurements are often issued alongside the reported concentrations. We report a validated method for measuring TCO2 levels in equine plasma using the Beckman UniCel DxC 600. A six-point calibration curve ranging from...
Folin M, Gennari G, Jori G.The irradiation of horse and sperm-whale Fe” or Fez’ myoglobins with visible light
showed that axial ligands that render the heme diamagnetic (e.g. 02, CO or CN-) endow the
hemoproteins with a marked photosensitivity. In contrast, high-spin myoglobins are unaffected by
visible light. These findings appear to be of general validity for all hemo-proteins and are in agreement
with the involvment of the triplet state of the heme as the reactive intermediate. In all cases, the overall
photoprocess occurs within a very narrow spatial range, leading to specific modification of these
photoox...
KAMINSKI M, GAJOS E.TWENTY-THREE fresh and 28 frozen (1–11 years old) samples of horse sera, 62 frozen donkey sera (3–11 years old), 24 frozen mule sera (2–10 years old), and 1 frozen 2-year-old serum sample of a hinny (offspring of a she-ass by a stallion) were studied by starch- and agar-gel electrophoresis (starch gel: horizontal migration, discontinued buffer system; tris-citrate pH 8.7 and borate 0.3 M, pH 8.2; 2 V/cm for 14 h; 10 samples analysed simultaneously; 0.1 ml. serum mixed with soluble starch Merck; agar gel: 0.8 per cent agar in veronal buffer 0.025 M, pH 8.2; 4.5 V/cm; 2½ h; 10 samples on ...
Ogunbiyi PO, Eyre P.Calves were sensitized with horse plasma (H.P.), 0.2 ml/kg, i.v., and H.P. (0.2 ml/kg) in Freund's complete adjuvant, s.c. The latter injection was repeated 1 week later and the animals were killed 10 days after the second injection. Spirally cut strips of pulmonary artery and vein and the trachealis muscle from the sensitized calves contracted to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and specific antigen (horse plasma). Antigen-induced contractions of the pulmonary smooth muscles were significantly blocked (P less than 0.05) by the 5-HT antagonists, methysergide and ketanserin. The trachea, however, app...
Martínez-Galisteo A, Diz A, Agüera E, Vivo J.34 Andalusian foals of both sexes were divided into three age-groups (A = mean age 1 month, B = 7 months, C = 14 months). Samples of the right m. gluteus medius were stained for m-ATPase and NADH-TR in order to determine fibre type composition and size as well as the relative area occupied by each type. Results revealed no statistically significant variation in the proportion of type I fibre among the three age-groups. Significant differences were recorded, however, for type II fibres; an increase in the proportion of IIA fibres was accompanied by a decrease in IIB ones, the difference being m...
Woods GL, Hillman RB, Schlafer DH.To evaluate embryo transfer as a possible method to circumvent infertility in mares, embryos from 14 normal and 14 infertile mares were collected three times and examined. Fewer flushes (p less than 0.05) from normal than infertile mares (1/42 vs 9/42) contained only abnormal embryos whereas more flushes (p less than 0.05) from normal than infertile mares contained one or more normal embryos (28/42 vs 8/42). More flushes (p less than 0.05) from normal than infertile mares contained embryos (29/42 vs 17/42). The embryo diameters (mm) at either day-7 or day-8 post ovulation were greater (p less ...
Monteiro FDO, Borges LPB, Cardoso TDS, Teixeira PPM, Filho DZ, Sartori VC, Pereira RN, Flores FN, Coelho CMM, Silva MAM, Valadão CAA.This study aimed to describe an animal model for studying equine visceral pain using minimally invasive and video-assisted cecum and ileum instrumentation. The access to the cecum and ileum was affected because of a previous typhlostomy. For video-assisted distention of the cecum and ileum, a distention device, which we developed using an endotracheal Rusch probe, was used, adapted, and coupled to a cuffometer to inflate and measure the pressure of the cuff attached to its distal portion. In a video-assisted manner, the distal portion of the device was introduced into the cecum and ileum, whic...
Bragulla H, Budras KD, Reilly JD.The fetal development of the white line (Zona alba) in the equine hoof is described. Its specific structure of lamellar and interlamellar horn, which in turn is composed of cap and terminal horn, is formed in the second half of the hoof's fetal development. In equine fetuses with a crown-rump length of less than 550 mm, the hoof capsule lacks a 'characteristic' white line since no borders between stratum medium, stratum internum and sole horn are discernible. In the hoof of an equine fetus with a crown-rump length of 550 mm, a narrow white line has taken shape. Its shallow lamellae are arrange...
Shaw FL, Handy RD, Bryson P, Sneyd JR, Moody AJ.The aim of the study was to investigate whether a single hyperbaric oxygen exposure causes oxidative stress in isolated platelets. Methods: Isolated horse platelets were exposed to 100% oxygen at 2.2 atmospheres, or 100% oxygen under normobaric conditions, or air under normobaric conditions for 90 min. Results: There were no differences in platelet SOD activity between conditions, but there was a rise in SOD in all cases after 24 h (in control platelets at 24 h, SOD was 11.9 +/- 1.9 nmol/min/mg protein compared to initial background levels of 8.2 +/- 1.9 nmol/min/mg protein) (P < 0.05). Nei...
Spallek A, Recknagel S, Breuer J, Koeller G, Schusser GF.The use of laxatives is crucial in the treatment of horses with large colon impaction. To reach the impacted mass, the laxative must leave the stomach and pass through the small intestine. The aim of this study was to determine whether the most frequently used saline and lubricant laxatives influence gastric emptying. Six fasted normal adult Warmblood horses were used in a randomized study design with five laxative trials (1.8% sodium sulfate [1.8% Na2SO4], 4.2% magnesium sulfate [4.2% MgSO4], mineral oil [MOil], 25% sodium sulfate [25% Na2SO4], 25% magnesium sulfate [25% MgSO4]) and two trial...
Jefcoat AM, Wagner JG, Robinson NE.The research article involves an in-depth exploration of the role of neutrophils, a type of immune cell, in inflammation, especially in relation to horse diseases. The study discusses the historical […]
Hakansson A, Albihn A, Magnusson U.The aim of the present study was to investigate if complement contributes to opsonic activity in the uterine secretions of mares with normal reproductive functions. Five mares with a mean age of 9 years were used in the study. The mares were considered to be free of endometritis based upon clinical history, palpation per rectum and ultrasonogaraphy of the genital tract, videoendoscopic inspection of the uterus, electronmicroscopy of endometrial biopsies, and bacteriological and cytological examination of swabs from the endometrium. The hormonal status of the mares was also determined. Uterine ...
Sandler EA, Frisbie DD, McIlwraith CW.Previous in vitro pilot studies have defined a potentially beneficial effect of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on interleukin-1 (IL-1)-conditioned equine cartilage. Furthermore, an optimal dose for IGF-1 treatment alone has been documented previously using the same test system as in the current project. Objective: To perform a dose titration of TA on IL-1-conditioned equine articular cartilage explants in the presence of an optimised IGF-1 dose, in order to optimise a triamcinolone concentration for use in combination with IGF-1 for future investigations....
Care AD.The mammalian fetus is maintained hypercalcaemic relative to its mother primarily by the action of a placental calcium pump located in the basal plasma membrane of the trophoblast. It is suggested that the activity of this pump is stimulated by a mid-molecular fragment of parathyroid hormone-related protein [PTHrP(38-94NH2)], produced in the placenta (and also in the parathyroid glands of fetal lambs and calves) as a result of post translational processing. In the sheep, calcitriol is an important determinant of fetal calcium homeostasis and it, too, stimulates the transport of calcium across ...
Gueguen L, Henry S, Delbos M, Lemasson A, Hausberger M.(1) Background: Since antiquity, it is considered that sounds influence human emotional states and health. Acoustic enrichment has also been proposed for domestic animals. However, in both humans and animals, effects vary according to the type of sound. Human studies suggest that frequencies, more than melodies, play a key role. Low and high frequencies, music tuning frequency and even EEG slow waves used for 'neurofeedback' produce effects. (2) Methods: We tested the possible impact of such pure frequencies on racehorses' behavior and physiology. A commercial non-audible acoustic stimulus, co...
Freitas ML, Viana JHM, Dode MAN, Braga TRC, de Oliveira RA.Scrotal surface thermography is a non-invasive method for assessing testicular thermoregulation in stallions; however, few studies have explored the application of this technique concerning the thermal physiology of equine reproductive systems. This study aimed to evaluate the consistency of testicular thermoregulation in stallions over a year using thermography to measure the scrotal surface temperature (SST). Moreover, we assessed the best region for measuring the surface body temperature compared with the SST. Ten light-breed stallions were used in the experiment. Thermographic images of th...
Ishimaru M, Tsuchiya T, Endo Y, Matsui A, Ohmura H, Murase H, Korosue K, Sato F, Taya K.Effects of different winter paddock management of Thoroughbred weanlings and yearlings in Hokkaido, Japan, which is extremely cold in winter, on physiological function, endocrine function and growth were investigated. They were divided into two groups; those kept outdoors for 22 hr in the paddock (22hr group) and those kept outdoors for 7 hr in daytime with walking exercise for 1 hr using the horse-walker (7hr +W group), and the changes in daily distance travelled, body temperature (BT), heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), endocrine function and growth parameters were compared between the t...
Ebisuda Y, Mukai K, Takahashi Y, Yoshida T, Matsuhashi T, Kawano A, Miyata H, Kuwahara M, Ohmura H.This study aimed to determine whether heat acclimation could induce adaptations in exercise performance, thermoregulation, and the expression of proteins associated with heat stress in the skeletal muscles of Thoroughbreds. Thirteen trained Thoroughbreds performed 3 weeks of training protocols, consisting of cantering at 90% maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) for 2 min 2 days/week and cantering at 7 m/s for 3 min 1 day/week, followed by a 20-min walk in either a control group (CON; Wet Bulb Globe Temperature [WBGT] 12-13°C; n = 6) or a heat acclimation group (HA; WBGT 29-30°...
Ramos GV, Santos MM, Gava FN, de Lacerda-Neto JC.The effects of conditioning on cardiac function in young horses is still unknown. For this reason, this study evaluated the left ventricular (LV) function of young horses by echocardiography after six weeks of conditioning. Fourteen untrained young purebred Arabian horses were evaluated at rest and after a stress test (ST) before and after a six-week conditioning program. There was an increase in V4 (p < 0.001) after conditioning, as well as a reduction in both heart rate (HR) at rest and peak HR during the ST (p < 0.001). There was also a reduction in internal diameter, along with an in...
Leemans B, Gadella BM, Marchand JHEAM, Van Soom A, Stout TAE.We recently developed re-differentiated equine oviduct epithelial cell (REOEC) monolayers demonstrating various in vivo morphological characteristics, but lacking secondary ciliation. In this study, we evaluated the effects of fetal bovine serum, reproductive steroid hormones, Wnt- and Notch ligands and inhibitors, and different EOEC seeding densities, in both conventional wells and on microporous membranes, on EOEC morphology and, in particular, secondary ciliation. REOEC monolayers were assessed by confocal microscopy after combined staining of nuclei, cilia and the cytoskeleton. Only Wnt li...
Hubbell JAE, Muir WW, Gorenberg E, Hopster K.Horses are the most challenging of the common companion animals to anesthetize. Induction of anesthesia in the horse is complicated by the fact that it is accompanied by a transition from a standing position to recumbency. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on induction of anesthesia with a focus on the behavioral and physiologic/pharmacodynamic responses and the actions and interactions of the drugs administered to induce anesthesia in the healthy adult horse with the goal of increasing consistency and predictability.
Discepolo DR, Gaare E, Handlos G, Perry EB.Cutaneous pH and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) are commonly utilized measures in dermatological research as they provide information concerning barrier function. The importance of dermal health has become more evident in recent years. Accordingly, the aim of this work was to identify natural fluctuations in the biophysical parameters of healthy equine skin. Cutaneous pH and TEWL was collected on nine mares at 6:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:00 PM daily for five days on the nose, withers, girth area, mid-back, and base of tail. Ambient temperature and humidity were measured at each collection. Stat...
Hisaeda K, Ono T, Kadekaru S, Hata A, Miyama TS, Kutara K, Sugimoto K, Hiasa Y, Ohzawa E, Kunieda T, Iwata E, Kitagawa H.Plasma or serum amino acids are used to evaluate nutritional status and metabolic disorders. In this study, we aimed to set reference values of serum amino acid concentrations in the Noma horse, a Japanese native horse. Thirty-one horses were classified into six age groups: neonatal foal (0-4 days), foal (0.5-1 years), youth (5 years), middle age (10 years), old (15 years), and extra-old (>20 years). Horses >5 years of age were analyzed together as the adult group. In the adult horses, there were no significant differences among the serum amino acid concentrations of each age group. The ...
