Changes in the blood redox status of horses subjected to combat training.

The study presents research into the effects of combat training on police horses, specifically the impact on their blood redox status or the balance of antioxidants and oxidants in their bloodstream. The findings indicate that newly trained horses show more prolonged oxidative imbalance, although less intense immediately after training, when compared with horses in regular service.

Objective of the Research

• The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of combat training on the balance of antioxidants and oxidants in the blood of police horses.
• The researchers sought to understand the oxidative imbalance implications following combat training in horses that were regularly in police service and those that had just been trained.

Methodology

• Blood samples from the horses were collected immediately after training and then after a 16-hour rest period.
• The blood samples were then analyzed for levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant status (TAS), all markers of enzymatic antioxidant defense.
• Additionally, lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and protein carbonylation (Carb) were measured as oxidation biomarkers. Oxidative imbalance indexes like SOD/CAT, SOD/GPx, TBARS/TAS, and TBARS/GPx were also calculated.

Findings

• The results showed that horses in training had significantly lower SOD activity in their red blood cells compared to more experienced horses.
• Immediately after training, CAT activity in erythrocytes was insignificantly higher than during recovery.
• The SOD/GPx ratio was higher in seasoned horses, which could suggest a shift inside red blood cells between the enzymes that produce and eliminate hydrogen peroxide in favor of the former.
• All the horses showed a significant increase in the concentration of carbonyl groups after combat training, higher than the recovery period.
• In inexperienced horses, the TBARS/TAS and TBARS/GPx indexes slightly increased during recovery time after exercises, which was contrary to experienced horses where these markers slightly decreased.

Conclusion

• The research concluded that oxidative imbalance in newly trained police horses, although less intense just after combat training, was more prolonged compared to horses in regular service.
• This could potentially impact long-term recovery and health for horses that are newly introduced to combat training.