Assessment of glucose disposal with the hyperglycaemic clamp technique during low intensity exercise in Warmblood horses.

The research article discusses how the glucose disposal rate in Warmblood horses increases during exercise compared to when at rest, using the hyperglycaemic clamp technique. The study provides important insights into the nutritional requirements of these horses.

Objective and Importance of the Study

• The study was carried out to assess the quantity of glucose disposal during low-intensity exercises such as walking and trotting compared to while at rest, in Warmblood horses. This has not been previously reported and is considered important for understanding their nutritional requirements.
• The glucose disposal rate is assessed using the hyperglycaemic clamp technique. This technique helps maintain a steady state of blood glucose concentration. The hyperglycaemic clamp technique is a non-isotope methodology and is seen as an effective way to assess glucose disposal rates.

Methodology

• Seven healthy Dutch Warmblood mares in dioestrus, with an average age of 11.6 years and average weight of 569 kg, were used for the experiment.
• These horses were fasted for 12 hours before inducing a hyperglycaemic clamp at rest. The horses were then made to walk for 10 minutes at 1.5 m/s, then trot for 20 minutes at 4.4 m/s before walking again for 10 minutes at 1.5 m/s, and finally put at rest. A steady state of blood glucose concentration was maintained during rest periods.
• Plasma glucose concentrations were measured every 5 minutes throughout the experiment. The mean rate of glucose disposal was calculated, taking into account corrections for glucose loss via the glucose space and urine.
• A one-way ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni was performed to analyse the changes.

Results

• The rate of glucose disposal was found to be significantly higher during trotting and the second walking phase as compared to the first rest phase.
• The mean rate of glucose disposal increased 2.5 times during trotting, compared to the base level at rest.
• The glucose disposal rates at the two resting phases were observed to be similar, indicating that exercise significantly affects glucose disposal in these horses.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that the mean rate of glucose disposal in Warmblood horses significantly increases during exercises such as trotting. These findings have direct relevance to the understanding of the nutritional requirements of these horses, particularly during periods of exercise.
• The researchers concluded that the hyperglycaemic clamp technique is an attractive non-isotope method to assess the rate of glucose disposal in exercising horses. It is considered effective because it allows a comparison between glucose disposal rates during exercise and rest periods.