[Changes of serum enzymes, lactate and hemoglobin concentrations in the blood of young trotting horses due to training exertion].

The research article investigates the effects of intense exercise in young trotting horses, specifically evaluating the impact on blood parameters, such as the activity of various serum enzymes and the concentration of lactate, protein, urea, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. The study found that most parameters increased after exercise, however, none reached a pathological level, indicating that such exercise does not cause injury to the horse’s vital organs.

Background of the Study

• The study was based on the observation of young trotting horses in Lindenhof stud farm in Templin, Germany.
• Unlike the usual practice of allowing these horses to grow without any special training until about 2 years of age, the horses in this case are subjected to a distinct training program.
• The training includes making the horses run a distance of about 1700 meters on a track at an average speed of up to 10 meters/second, 2-3 times a week.
• Before this study, there was limited information on the physiological changes in the horses’ blood resulting from this level of exertion.

Methodology

• The research involved regular monitoring and examination of key blood parameters in the animals before and after exercise.
• Particular emphasis was put on selected serum enzymes including aspartate-amino-transferase (AST), alanine-amino-transferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl-transferase (gamma-GT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and creatine kinase (CK).
• The variations of hematocrit, hemoglobin, lactate, protein, and urea concentrations in the horses’ blood were also closely examined.

Findings

• Except for the activity of AP and CK and the concentration of urea, all monitored blood parameters showed a significant increase after exercise.
• The increase in lactic-acid concentration was particularly dramatic, with values reaching up to 23.08 mmol/l.
• Importantly, none of the parameters reached pathological levels – which would indicate potential harm or injury to the animal.

Conclusion

• The research concludes that the intense training program does not result in damage to myocardium, skeletal muscles, or liver cells in young trotting horses.
• However, the observed changes and increases in several blood parameters suggest that the training certainly demands significant physiological adaptation and response from the animals.