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Circulating angiotensin converting enzyme in endurance horses: effect of exercise on blood levels and its value in predicting performance.
Abstract: Investigate angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in equine plasma as a predictor of performance in endurance competitions and the effect of endurance exercise on ACE activity. Objective: Precompetition values of ACE activity in equine blood are correlated with performance results and with heart rates pre- and post competition used as indicators of fitness. Endurance exercise increases ACE activity. Methods: Nineteen horses participating in an 80 km endurance competition had venous blood samples collected before and after the ride. ACE activity and total protein were measured in the blood samples and heart rates and finishing positions were recorded. Statistical analysis included paired t tests and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: Of the 19 horses enlisted, only 16 horses completed the ride. Of these 16, another 2 were disqualified at the last veterinary check. When the 16 horses were considered, precompetition heart rate, but not ACE, was correlated with finishing position. When only the 14 horses that were classified were considered, the association disappeared. ACE activity was similar before and after competition. Conclusions: Precompetition ACE activity in endurance horses competing in an 80 km event was not associated with either finishing position or heart rates before or after competition, indicating that the enzyme is not a good predictor of performance in this form of equestrian competition. Endurance competition did not significantly alter ACE activity in this group of horses.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-27 PubMed ID: 21058998DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00171.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
The study examines whether the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity in endurance horses can be used to predict performance in competitions and whether endurance exercise affects ACE activity. The results showed that the enzyme is not a reliable predictor of performance.
Research Goals
The study aimed to examine:
- The activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in the blood plasma of endurance horses.
- The potential of ACE activity as a performance indicator in endurance competitions.
- The impact of endurance exercise on ACE activity.
Methodology
To achieve these objectives, the research used the following methods:
- The investigation included 19 horses entered in an 80 kilometer endurance competition.
- Before and after the competition, the researchers collected venous blood samples from each horse participant.
- The researchers then measured the ACE activity and total protein in the collected blood samples.
- They also recorded the heart rates and finishing positions of the horses.
- The data was then statistically analyzed using paired t tests and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.
Results
The findings from the study revealed the following:
- Out of the 19 horses, 16 completed the ride, and of these 16, 2 were later disqualified at the last vet check.
- For the 16 horses, there was a correlation between precompetition heart rate and finishing position, but not with ACE activity.
- When only the 14 horses that were classified were considered, the correlation between precompetition heart rate and finishing position disappeared.
- ACE activity was found to be similar before and after the competition.
Conclusions
Based on the results, the researchers concluded that:
- Precompetition ACE activity in endurance horses competing in an 80 kilometer event was not related to either the finishing position or heart rates before or after the competition.
- This suggests that ACE activity is not a reliable predictor of performance in endurance horse competition.
- The study also concluded that endurance competition did not significantly alter ACE activity in the tested horses.
Cite This Article
APA
De Mello Costa MF, Anderson GA, Davies HM, El-Hage CM, Slocombe RF.
(2011).
Circulating angiotensin converting enzyme in endurance horses: effect of exercise on blood levels and its value in predicting performance.
Equine Vet J Suppl(38), 152-154.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00171.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Australia. mfveterinaria@hotmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / blood
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance / physiology
- Sports
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Ding W, Gong W, Bou T, Shi L, Lin Y, Shi X, Li Z, Wu H, Dugarjaviin M, Bai D. Whole-Genome Resequencing Analysis of Copy Number Variations Associated with Athletic Performance in Grassland-Thoroughbred. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 18;15(10).
- Holbrook T, Hernandez J, McCarrel T, Lester G, Sleeper M, Domenig O, Adin D. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Profiling in Horses Before and After Exercise. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70036.
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