Blood-Based Markers for Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Function in Eventing Horses before and after Cross-Country Rides and How They Are Influenced by Plasma Volume Shift.
Abstract: Horses competing in cross-country tests are subjected to high physical demands. Within the scope of this prospective longitudinal study, blood values of 20 elite eventing horses were examined before and after two- to four-star cross-country rides. The aim was to find out whether blood-based markers for skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle function change after cross-country exercise. Parameters that provide information about fluid balance, muscle enzymes, metabolites and cardiac muscle-specific markers were investigated. We developed an approach to eliminate the concentration changes caused by reduced plasma volume. Parameters were measured pre, 10 and 30 min post exercise and the next morning and were evaluated using a mixed model. Thirty minutes after exercise, most parameter concentrations changed in an exercise-dependent manner. The next morning, most exercise-related markers recovered rapidly, while creatine kinase (CK) (26% increase; = 0.008) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (15% increase; < 0.001) showed a declining but sustained increase. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) increased above the reference range in 40 of the 55 rides (73%) and in 18 of 20 horses in the morning after exercise.
Publication Date: 2023-10-05 PubMed ID: 37835716PubMed Central: PMC10572052DOI: 10.3390/ani13193110Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This article discusses a study investigating the impact of cross-country rides on the physical function of elite eventing horses, particularly focusing on skeletal and cardiac muscle changes. Blood markers were assessed before, during, and after the exercise, with a specific focus on fluid balance, muscular enzymes, metabolites, and cardiac muscle markers.
Objective of the Study
- The research aims to understand how strenuous cross-country rides alter blood-based markers of skeletal and cardiac muscle function in elite eventing horses through a longitudinal study.
Methodology
- The sample for the study comprises 20 elite eventing horses.
- Blood samples were taken before, 10 and 30 minutes post-exercise, and the next morning after two- to four-star cross-country rides.
- The researchers measured parameters that provide insight into fluid balance, muscle enzymes, metabolites, and cardiac muscle-specific markers.
- The team also developed an approach to negate the concentration changes caused by reduced plasma volume.
- The data obtained was evaluated using a mixed model.
Findings
- There was a significant change in concentrations of most parameters 30 minutes after exercise, likely because of the physical exertion.
- Most exercise-related markers recovered rapidly the next morning, indicating the effective recovery of the horses.
- However, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), vital enzymes for muscle function, showed a gradual but sustained increase, with a 26% increase for CK and 15% for LDH.
- Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a specific marker for cardiac muscle function, increased above the reference range in 73% of the total 55 rides and in 90% of the 20 horses the morning after exercise. This could possibly point to a muscular strain in the heart caused by the high physical demands of the cross-country test.
Conclusion
- The results of the study demonstrated that cross-country rides have a significant impact on the skeletal and cardiac muscle functions of eventing horses, as shown by changes in the concentrations of related blood markers.
- While most markers recovered quickly, the sustained increase in CK, LDH, and cTnI suggests longer-lasting effects on the muscles, highlighting the importance of recovery and monitoring of eventing horses for optimal performance and health.
Cite This Article
APA
Giers J, Bartel A, Kirsch K, Müller SF, Horstmann S, Gehlen H.
(2023).
Blood-Based Markers for Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Function in Eventing Horses before and after Cross-Country Rides and How They Are Influenced by Plasma Volume Shift.
Animals (Basel), 13(19), 3110.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193110 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Clinic, Internal Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14193 Berlin, Germany.
- Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Königsweg 67, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
- Department Sensors and Modeling, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max-Eyth Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany.
- Laboklin Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics, Steubenstrasse 4, 97688 Bad Kissingen, Germany.
- German Olympic Committee for Equestrian Sports (DOKR), Freiherr-von-Langen-Straße 15, 48231 Warendorf, Germany.
- Equine Clinic, Internal Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14193 Berlin, Germany.
Grant Funding
- ZMVI4-070101_16-17 / Bundesinstitut fu00fcr Sportwissenschaft
Conflict of Interest Statement
S.F.M. is employed at the contributing commercial veterinary diagnostics laboratory LABOKLIN GmbH & Co. KG (Bad Kissingen, Germany) as head of research and development of the department of clinical pathology, but had no role in the design of the study, in the collection of samples, interpretation of data or in the decision to publish the results. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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