Effect of intravenous administration of furosemide on mass-specific maximal oxygen consumption and breathing mechanics in exercising horses.
Abstract: To determine whether i.v. administration of furosemide (250 mg) to horses before maximal exercise affected maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), breathing mechanics, or gas exchange during exercise. Methods: 7 healthy, well-conditioned Thoroughbred horses. Methods: 5 horses initially performed an incremental treadmill exercise test to determine VO2max 4 hours after i.v. administration of furosemide (250 mg i.v.) or placebo (saline [0.9% NaCl] solution). Time to fatigue and distance run were recorded. All 7 horses were then used to determine the effects of furosemide on gas exchange and breathing mechanics at 40, 60, 80, and 100% of VO2max. Horses were weighed immediately before exercise. Results: Furosemide treatment significantly increased mass-specific VO2max (5.3%), but absolute VO2max was not significantly altered. In the 2 parts of the study, body weights were 2.9 and 2.5% higher when horses were given placebo than when they were given furosemide. Time and distance run at speeds > or = 11.0 m/s were significantly greater following furosemide administration. Furosemide treatment had no effect on breathing mechanics or gas exchange. Conclusions: Previous studies have suggested that prerace administration of furosemide may have a positive effect on performance. Results of this study indicate that this may be attributable, in part, to an increase in mass-specific VO2max but not to improvements in breathing mechanics or gas exchange. Most of the increase in mass-specific VO2max appeared to be attributable to weight loss associated with diuresis induced by furosemide.
Publication Date: 1999-11-24 PubMed ID: 10566819
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research examines the impact of intravenous furosemide on oxygen consumption levels and breathing mechanics in exercising horses, finding that the treatment boosts mass-specific maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and performance, without affecting breathing mechanics or gas exchange.
Experiment Design and Methodology
- Seven healthy, well-conditioned Thoroughbred horses were involved in the study. Initially, five horses performed an incremental treadmill exercise test to determine VO2max after the introduction of 250mg of furosemide or a placebo.
- The test was conducted 4 hours after the intravenous administration. Key indicators such as time to fatigue and distance run were monitored.
- Thereafter, all seven horses were subjected to testing to observe furosemide’s effects on gas exchange and breathing mechanics at varying levels of VO2max (40, 60, 80, and 100%).
- The horses’ weights were recorded just prior to the exercise regimen.
Results
- Furosemide treatment significantly increased mass-specific VO2max by 5.3%. However, absolute VO2max remained largely unchanged.
- The horses’ body weights were found to be 2.9% and 2.5% more when administered a placebo, indicating weight loss associated with furosemide-induced diuresis.
- Performance metrics such as time and distance run at speeds equal to or above 11.0 m/s substantially improved following furosemide administration.
- Notably, the furosemide treatment did not impact breathing mechanics or gas exchange in the horses.
Conclusions
- The study’s outcomes align with past research suggesting that prerace administration of furosemide may boost performance. This seems partially correlated to the increase in mass-specific VO2max.
- However, the results show no improvements in breathing mechanics or gas exchange, disputing the notion that these factors are influenced by furosemide treatment.
- The lionshare of the increase in mass-specific VO2max could be attributed to weight loss resulting from the diuretic effect of furosemide.
Cite This Article
APA
Bayly WM, Slocombe RF, Schott HC, Hodgson DR.
(1999).
Effect of intravenous administration of furosemide on mass-specific maximal oxygen consumption and breathing mechanics in exercising horses.
Am J Vet Res, 60(11), 1415-1422.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6610, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Furosemide / administration & dosage
- Furosemide / pharmacology
- Horses / physiology
- Injections, Intravenous
- Oxygen / blood
- Oxygen Consumption / drug effects
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Respiratory Mechanics / drug effects
- Respiratory Mechanics / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Lopez Sanchez CM, Kogan C, Gold JR, Sellon DC, Bayly WM. Relationship between tracheobronchoscopic score and bronchoalveolar lavage red blood cell numbers in the diagnosis of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jan;34(1):322-329.
- Poole DC, Erickson HH. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage: where are we now?. Vet Med (Auckl) 2016;7:133-148.
- Hinchcliff KW, Couetil LL, Knight PK, Morley PS, Robinson NE, Sweeney CR, van Erck E. Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses: American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus statement.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 May-Jun;29(3):743-58.
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