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.
Schroeder E, Wollmer A, Kubicki J, Ohlenbusch HD.The effect of proton concentration upon the subunit dissociation of horse methemoglobin has been investigated at two ionic strengths by light scattering photometry at 700 nm. Differential refractometry revealed a slight but systematic decrease of the specific refractive index increment with decreasing protein concentration for solutions in dialytic equilibrium with the solvent. In the pH range 4.8-7.2 the dissociation can be described by a simple equilibrium between tetramers and dimers. The dissociation constant Kd of the met derivative is found to be very similar to those of the O2- and CO-l...
Atkins DT, Harms PG, Sorensen AM, Fleeger JL.5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione was isolated from pooled pregnant mare serum using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and identified by the use of radioimmunoassay, gas-liquid chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses. 5beta-pregnane-3,20-dione was not cross-reactive with the radioimmunoassay system and was not detected by gas-liquid chromatography. Peripheral blood levels of progesterone and 5alphs-pregnane-3,20-dione were determined by radioimmunoassay in four Quarter Horse mares for the first 150 days of gestation. Progesterone and 5alpha-pregnane-3,20-dione decli...
Skarda RT, Muir WW, Milne DW, Gabel AA.Five healthy, mature, previously trained Standardbred horses were given no exercise (left in a stall) for 4 months, then jogged (slow exercise) for 3 weeks, and placed in a 6-week training period. Cardiac variables were measured at the beginning of training and after 14, 20, 35, and 42 days of training before and at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes after a 1.8-km (in 3:12 +/- 2 seconds) standard, submaximal exercise test on a deep 0.53-km track. There was no significant change during the 6-week conditioning period in the following variables at rest or at any of the times observed during recovery...
Stewart F, Allen WR, Moor RM.Specific radioreceptor assays for FSH and LH, which employ tissue receptors from rat testis and highly purified human FSH (LER 1575-C) and LH (Hartree IRC-2, 24/6/69) as standards, have been developed to determine the FSH-like and LH-like activities in pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Measurements of FSH and LH concentrations in the serum of six pregnant Pony mares showed that the ratio of these two activities did not vary significantly between mares and remained constant between days 40 and 80 of gestation with a value of 1-45 +/- 0-04 (S.E.M.). The FSH:LH ratio of PMSG produced by cu...
Forster HV, Bisgard GE, Rasmussen B, Orr JA, Buss DD, Manohar M.The present study was designed to provide further insight into the role of the carotid and aortic chemoreceptors in ventilatory (VE) acclimatization during sojourn at altitude. Measurements were made: 1) on 10 ponies near sea level (SL, 740 Torr) under normal conditions, 2) on 6 of these at SL following chemoreceptor denervation (CD), and 3) subsequently on all 10 during 4 days of hypobaric hypoxia (PaO2 = 40-47 Torr). CD resulteo in hypoventilation at SL (deltaPaCO2 = d8 Torr, P less than 0.05), and it prevented hyperventilation normally observed with injection of NaCN and acute exposure to h...
Rifkind JM, Lauer LD, Chiang SC, Li NC.Oxidation studies of hemoglobin by Cu(II) indicate that for horse hemoglobin, up to a Cu(II)/heme molar ratio of 0.5, all of the Cu(II) added is used to rapidly oxidize the heme. On the other hand, most of the Cu(II) added to human hemoglobin at low Cu(II)/heme molar ratios is unable to oxidize the heme. Only at Cu(II)/heme molar ratios greater than 0.5 does the amount of oxidation per added Cu(II) approach that of horse hemoglobin. At the same time, binding studies indicate that human hemoglobin has an additional binding site involving one copper for every two hemes, which has a higher copper...
Science (New York, N.Y.)November 5, 1976
Volume 194, Issue 4265 626-627 doi: 10.1126/science.790567
Radinsky L.Previous interpretations of early horse brains were based on an incorrectly identified fossil endocast, now believed to be from a condylarth. Newly prepared endocasts of Hyracotherium, the oldest horse and one of the earliest perissodactyls, reveal a relatively larger brain, with a more expanded neocortex, than existed in the condylarth ancestors of perissodactyls. Fifty million years ago, horse brains had suprasylvian, ectolateral, and lateral sulci, but the frontal lobe was undeveloped.
Miller JR, Blake JW, Tobin T.An electron capturing derivative of apomorphine was prepared by incubating the drug with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA), triethylamine and heat. Mass spectral analysis suggests that HFBA reacts with both phenolic hydroxyl groups on apomorphine to give a derivative detectable at low picogram levels. This method is sufficiently sensitive for pharmacokinetic studies in the horse and is likely applicable to other dopaminergic analogues of apomorphine.
Pratt GW, O'Connor JT.The force plate can measure a wide range of effects in the horse. The same instrument can record forces from more than a ton in the galloping animal to 25 g associated with the action of the heart. In all probability, the force plate will develop into a valuable clinical instrument.
Pal AK, Gupta T, Chatterjee A.A single consistent luteolytic dose of 10 IU PMSG given on day 5 of pregnancy caused complete resorption of foetuses and placentae associated with a polyfollicular ovarian state in rats. Concomitant treatment with progesterone or prolactin given concurrently with PMSG was found to overcome the antifertility efficacy of PMSG and maintained the endocrine balance favouring pregnancy maintenance. It was postulated that the PMSG-induced ovarian polyfolliculogenesis might be responsible for luteolysis of the corpus luteum gravidarum.
Reddy VK, Kammula RG, Graham TC, Srungaram SK, Bowie WC, Hawthorne EW.Regional coronary blood flow was measured by injecting radioactive microspheres (15 mum +/- 5 in diameter) into the left atrium of anesthetized ponies with surgically prepared open thorax before and during occlusion of the coronary arteries. The normal blood flow to the myocardium of the interventricular septum and the left ventricular wall were highest, followed in decreasing order by the right ventricular wall, the interatrial septum, the atrial walls, and the valves. Measurement of transmural blood flow in the normal left ventricle yielded a mean endocardial/epicardial flow ratio of 1.36 in...
Douglas RH, Ginther OJ.In experiment 1, seven groups of pony mares (2 or 3/group) were given either no injections (controls), or 5 (5X) or 10 (10X) daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of 1.25 mg PGF2alpha beginning on days 1, 7 or 13 post-ovulation. Compared to controls (24.5 days), the interovulatory interval was longer (P less than ..05) for day 7, 10X (33.5 days) and day 13, 10X mares (49.0 days) but was not different for the remaining groups. In experiment 2, nine groups of pony mares (4/group) were given either no injections (controls) or 1 (1X) or 10 (10X) daily SC injections of 1.25 mg PGF2alpha beginning on d...
Samuel CA, Allen WR, Steven DH.In early pregnancy the equine placenta consists of a simple apposition of fetal and maternal epithelia, but it becomes more complex with the formation of microcotyledons between 75 and 100 days of gestation. Although the placental barrier maintains an epitheliochorial arrangement throughout the course of pregnancy, a thinning of the maternal epithelium and a progressive indentation of the chorionic epithelium by fetal capillaries shortens the length of the diffusion pathway and reduces the amount of placental tissue between fetal and maternal bloodstreams. These structural modifications may re...
Stefanini S, Chiancone E, Vecchini P, Antonini E.Iron uptake and micelle formation in ferritin and apoferritin have been followed both spectrophotometrically and by means of sedimentation velocity experiments. Information was thus obtained on the molecular weight distribution of the reconstitution product. To achieve incorporation 'native' ferritin (whole ferritin as purified from horse spleen), 'native' apoferritin (apoferritin prepared by fractionation of ferritin preparations) and 'reduced' apoferritin (apoferritin prepared by reduction of ferritin by dithionite or ascorbic acid) have been incubated with ferrous salts in the presence of o...
Nitschelm D, van der Horst CJ.It appeared that in mares suffering from endometritis the concentrations of pregnenolone, of the compound "5.4", and of progesterone in the blood during the first 2 days of the heat period were significantly higher than in normal cycling mares, in which the concentrations of all steroids were less than or equal to 1 ng/ml. In five endometritis mares the "5.4" and progesterone concentrations decreased after the first days of the heat period, and at about two days before ovulation the values were comparable to those of normal cycling mares. Eight mares suffering from a severe endometritis did no...
McIlwraith CW, Owen RA, Basrur PK.Cytogenetic and histological studies were carried out on an intersex horse which was diagnosed clinically as a cryptorchid. Surgery confirmed the horse to be a bilateral abdominal cryptorchid and histological examination revealed ovarian tissue associated with the left epididymis. Chromosome analysis of cultured cells from testicular tissue, ovarian tissue and skin revealed 64-XX and 64-XY make-up, the left gonad containing a greater preponderance of XX cells over XY cells. The external characteristics and behaviour of the horse were indistinguishable from that of a "routine" cryptorchid. Othe...
Delbeke FT, Debackere M.It is well known that nikethamide (N,N-diethylnicotinamide, CoramineR) is metabolized very rapidly to nicotinamide. Hence, there is difficulty in proving that nikethamide has been used as a doping substance because nicotinamide is a normal physiological metabolite in the organism as well as a vitamin preparation. However, an intermediate metabolite (N-ethylnicotinamide) was found by us in the urine of horses treated with CoramineR. This was characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and synthesized and identified as being N-ethylnicotinamide. The excretion and metabolism of niketha...
Moore CP.An understanding of normal structure and function of the equine eyelid is essential to make an accurate diagnosis and appropriately treat equine eyelid diseases. Entropion, eyelid trauma, neoplasia, and nasolacrimal disorders are reviewed. Methods of diagnosis and treatment are presented.
Tranquilli WJ, Manohar M, Thurmon JC, Manning JP.Long-term catheterisation of the coronary sinus using a specially designed catheter was accomplished in 6 ponies via a right lateral thoracotomy. The catheter comprised a 10 to 12 cm long stiff segment (Teflon) joined to a 100 cm length of pliable medical grade (vinyl) tubing. Catheters were kept functional up to 10 weeks postoperatively. Location of the catheter tip was verified by determining the oxygen tension of anaerobically withdrawn blood samples. Normal values of oxygen tension of the coronary sinus blood in ponies were similar to those reported for the dog, whereas oxygen content was ...
Douglas RH, Del Campo MR, Ginther OJ.On the day of ovulation (Day 0), 20 pony mares were randomly assigned to one of five groups (4 mares/group) which were given intracarotid arterial (ICA) and intraovarian arterial (IOA) injections on Day 7 as follows: 1) vehicle ICA, vehicle IOA (control); 2) .125 mg PGF2α ICA, vehicle IOA; 3) vehicle ICA, .125 mg PGF2α IOA; 4) .250 mg PGF2α ICA, vehicle IOA; or 5) vehicle ICA, .250 mg PGF2α IOA. Peripheral plasma progesterone and LH concentrations were determined for 0 (pretreatment) and .1, .25, .50, .75, 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h posttreatment. The intervals (days) from treatment to ...
Ginther OJ, Beg MA, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Cooper DA.The effect of treatment with an ovulation-inducing dose of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on 17beta-estradiol (estradiol) and LH concentrations was studied in mares. In Experiment 1, treatment with hCG resulted in ovulation in approximately 48 h. The LH surge centralized to ovulation and the preovulatory decline in estradiol were not different between hCG-treated (n=15) and control (n=13) groups. In Experiment 2, concentrations of hCG decreased 92% between 1 and 48 h after hCG treatment, estradiol decreased (P<0.003) within 6h, and LH increased at a greater (P<0.02) rate after 12h (n...
Matthews SM.Leucocyte antigens are cell-surface glycoproteins, the structure of which is under the genetic control of a chromosome region called the major histocompatibility complex. Progress in the study of the equine leucocyte antigen (ELA) system has been achieved in two ways; first by the fact that the ELA system is intensively investigated in different laboratories all over the world and parallels can be drawn to the information gained from research in more extensively studied species, and secondly by the collaborative efforts of the participants in three international workshops. The potential applic...
Rance TA, Park BK.Oestrone, equilin and dehydroepiandrosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay in peripheral plasma from five pony mares; samples were taken from day 60 of pregnancy at approximately weekly intervals through to parturition. Of the three steroids measured, dehydroepiandrosterone showed the most consistent pattern of secretion. DHA concentrations remained low until day 105, increased rapidly from day 120 and attained maximum values between days 168–210; levels declined to day 300, but there was considerable variation between mares in DHA patterns prior to parturition. There was great variation...
Sarasola P, Horspool LJ, McKellar QA.The effect of urine pH on plasma disposition of ampicillin sodium was evaluated. A single dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight was administered IV to Thoroughbreds with alkaline (pH greater than 8.0) or acidic (pH less than 4.5) urine. Urine alkalinity was achieved and maintained by oral administration of up to 400 mg of sodium bicarbonate/kg/d, and acidity was achieved and maintained by oral administration of up to 400 mg of ammonium chloride/kg/d. Ampicillin sodium was measured in the plasma of horses by use of an agar diffusion microbiological assay with Bacillus subtilis as the test organism. T...
Dejardin LM, Arnoczky SP, Cloud GL.During impact, equine hooves undergo viscoelastic deformations which may result in potentially harmful strains. Previous hoof strain studies using strain gauges have been inconclusive due to arbitrary gauge placement. Photoelastic stress analysis (PSA) is a full-field technique which visually displays strains over entire loaded surfaces. This in vitro study identifies normal hoof strain patterns using PSA. Custom-made photoelastic plastic sheets were applied to the hoof surface. The hooves were axially loaded (225 kg) under level and varus/valgus conditions. Strain patterns were video-recorded...