Effect of time of day and physical exercise on inflammatory biomarkers in athletic horses.
Abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of time of day and physical exercise on some inflammatory biomarkers (white blood cell count-WBCs, leukocyte subpopulation CD4 + and CD8 + cells, total proteins, Interleukins IL-6, IL-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor TNFα) in trained saddle horses. Unassigned: Blood samples were collected from 10 horses before, immediately (following 5 min) and 1 h after the training session in the morning (am) and afternoon (pm). Unassigned: Statistical analysis showed increasing value of WBCs immediately and 1 h after exercise ( < 0.01: < 0.01) at am compared to rest. Lower CD4 + oncentration was observed immediately and 1 h after exercise ( < 0.01; < 0.01) at pm compared to rest and decreased levels 1-h post-exercise at pm compared to am ( < 0.001). CD8 + exhibited significant lower value at pm compared to am at each time point (before: < 0.01; immediately: < 0.01; 1 h after: < 0.001). IL-6 showed increasing value post-exercise at pm ( < 0.01). IL-6 and IL-1β levels were markedly elevated at pm compared to am at each time point ( < 0.0001; < 0.0001; < 0.0001). This information is essential for formulating suitable training regimens, considering performance in connection to possible daily risk for infection, illness, and inflammation to which the horse may be vulnerable.
Copyright © 2025 Aragona, Giannetto, Piccione, Arfuso, Arrigo, Costa, De Caro, Cannuli and Fazio.
Publication Date: 2025-06-04 PubMed ID: 40534779PubMed Central: PMC12175248DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1608770Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article explores how the time of day and physical exercise affect different inflammatory biomarkers in trained saddle horses. The outcomes of this research can inform effective training schedules by considering potential daily risks for infection, illness, and inflammation.
Objective of the Study
The main purpose of the study was to understand the influence of the time of day and physical exercise on various inflammatory biomarkers in athletic horses. The biomarkers under investigation included white blood cell counts (WBCs), subsets of leukocytes (CD4+ and CD8+ cells), total proteins, and several Interleukins (IL-6 and IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNFα).
Research Methodology
- Blood samples were taken from 10 trained saddle horses before, immediately after (5 minutes), and 1 hour after morning and afternoon training sessions. This allowed the researchers to monitor changes in these markers relative to exercise and time of day.
- The researchers then statistically analyzed the data to determine the influence of these factors on the horses’ inflammatory biomarkers.
Study Findings
- The study found a significant increase in the WBC count immediately and 1 hour after morning exercise, compared to baseline levels (before exercise).
- There was a distinct reduction in CD4+ cell concentration immediately and 1 hour after afternoon exercise, in comparison to baseline levels. A further decrease in CD4+ levels was observed one hour after afternoon exercise when compared to their levels after morning exercise.
- For CD8+ cells, a significant decrease was found across all time points in afternoon when compared with morning.
- The researchers observed an increase in IL-6 levels after afternoon exercise.
- Additionally, IL-6 and IL-1β levels were markedly higher during all measurement points in the afternoon, as compared to the morning.
Implications of the Research
The findings of this study are integral for creating the most efficient training regimens for athletic horses. The revealed variations in inflammatory biomarkers in relation to time of day and exercise suggest that trainers should schedule strenuous workouts at times that are less likely to spike inflammatory responses, thereby reducing the horses’ daily susceptibility to infection, illness, and inflammation.
Cite This Article
APA
Aragona F, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Arfuso F, Arrigo F, Costa A, De Caro S, Cannuli A, Fazio F.
(2025).
Effect of time of day and physical exercise on inflammatory biomarkers in athletic horses.
Front Vet Sci, 12, 1608770.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1608770 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Engineering, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.
References
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Citations
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