Effect of ration and exercise on plasma creatine kinase activity and lactate concentration in Thoroughbred horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Abstract: To determine the effects of 3 rations (low grain, fat, high grain) on plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity and lactate concentration in Thoroughbred horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER). Methods: 5 Thoroughbreds with RER and 3 healthy Thoroughbreds (control horses). Methods: Rations were formulated to meet (low-grain and fat rations) or exceed (high-grain ration) daily energy requirements. Each ration was fed to horses in a crossover design for 3 weeks. Horses were exercised on a treadmill Monday through Friday; maximum speed on Monday and Friday was 11 m/s (6% slope), on Tuesday and Thursday was 9 m/s, and on Wednesday was 4.5 m/s. Plasma CK activity and lactate concentration were determined before and after exercise. Results: Horses with RER fed the high-grain ration had significantly greater CK activity and change in CK activity 4 hours after exercise, compared with those fed the low-grain ration. Horses with RER exercised at the trot or canter had significantly greater increases in CK activity, compared with those exercised at the gallop. Plasma lactate concentrations after exercise were similar in control and affected horses. Lactate concentration and CK activity were not correlated in horses with RER. Conclusions: Rations high in grain and formulated to exceed daily energy requirements may increase episodes of rhabdomyolysis in thoroughbred horses susceptible to RER.
Publication Date: 2000-12-07 PubMed ID: 11108185DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.1390Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article explores how different diets and exercise impact blood levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactic acid in Thoroughbred horses that commonly suffer muscle damage (RER). It found that high-grain diets seemed to increase CK activity, and that horses exercising at slower speeds had higher increases in CK than those going at full speed.
Research Purpose and Methodology
- The primary objective of this study is to understand how three different diets (fat, low grain, and high grain) affect the blood levels of creatine kinase and lactic acid in Thoroughbred horses, which are prone to recurring muscle damage or rhabdomyolysis (RER).
- The diets were designed either to meet (low-grain and fat diets) or surpass (high-grain diet) the horses’ daily caloric needs.
- Five horses with RER and three horses without the condition (used here as control subjects) were fed each of these diets in a crossover research design. This means each horse tried every diet for three weeks at a time.
- These horses were exercised on a treadmill regularly over the weekdays, at varying speeds depending on the day.
- Plasma CK activity and lactic acid levels were measured before and after exercise.
Research Findings
- Thoroughbred horses with RER displayed greater CK activity and an increase in CK activity four hours post-exercise when fed the high-grain diet compared to the low-grain option.
- Those horses with RER that exercised at trot or canter speeds showed a more significant increase in CK activity than those exercised at a gallop pace.
- The study revealed similar lactic acid levels post-exercise in both non-affected control horses and horses with RER.
- Interestingly, the researchers found no correlation between lactic acid concentration and CK activity in horses with RER.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that high-grain diets, which exceed daily energy needs, may exacerbate instances of RER in Thoroughbred horses. As such, diet could be an important factor in RER management.
Cite This Article
APA
MacLeay JM, Valberg SJ, Pagan JD, Xue JL, De La Corte FD, Roberts J.
(2000).
Effect of ration and exercise on plasma creatine kinase activity and lactate concentration in Thoroughbred horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis.
Am J Vet Res, 61(11), 1390-1395.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.1390 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Creatine Kinase / blood
- Cross-Over Studies
- Energy Intake
- Female
- Gait
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Lactic Acid / blood
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Recurrence
- Rhabdomyolysis / blood
- Rhabdomyolysis / physiopathology
- Rhabdomyolysis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Aldrich K, Velez-Irizarry D, Fenger C, Schott M, Valberg SJ. Pathways of calcium regulation, electron transport, and mitochondrial protein translation are molecular signatures of susceptibility to recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis in Thoroughbred racehorses. PLoS One 2021;16(2):e0244556.
- Fritz KL, McCue ME, Valberg SJ, Rendahl AK, Mickelson JR. Genetic mapping of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis in a population of North American Thoroughbreds. Anim Genet 2012 Dec;43(6):730-8.
- Isgren CM, Upjohn MM, Fernandez-Fuente M, Massey C, Pollott G, Verheyen KL, Piercy RJ. Epidemiology of exertional rhabdomyolysis susceptibility in standardbred horses reveals associated risk factors and underlying enhanced performance. PLoS One 2010 Jul 14;5(7):e11594.
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