Effects of clenbuterol hydrochloride on certain respiratory and cardiovascular parameters in horses performing treadmill exercise.
Abstract: Five standardbred geldings received intravenous clenbuterol hydrochloride and saline in a crossover experiment to evaluate the effects of clenbuterol on certain cardiorespiratory parameters during and after treadmill exercise. The exercise test consisted of four steps. Step 1 at a speed of 76 m per minute, step 2 at 129 m per minute, step 3 at 190 m per minute and step 4 at 236 m per minute. The duration of each step was two minutes, except step 4 which was four minutes. The treadmill was set at a grade of 19 per cent. Before exercise, 30 minutes after clenbuterol or saline administration, arterial and mixed venous blood gases, mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, telemetric electrocardiogram and respiratory rate were measured. The measurements were repeated immediately before completion of step 2, step 4 and after one minute, 10 minutes and 30 minutes of recovery from exercise. After clenbuterol administration there was a transient fall in mean arterial pressure, which had returned to control values by 90 seconds. There was no change in mean pulmonary artery pressure. During exercise the heart rate was significantly higher at the end of steps 1 and 4 and after 10 minutes recovery when horses given clenbuterol were compared with those given saline. No adverse effects on the electrocardiogram were demonstrated. Effects of clenbuterol on blood gases included an increase in PaO2 and decrease in PaCO2 one minute after exercise, when compared to saline. It was concluded from the parameters examined that there was no evidence that clenbuterol had any significant untoward effect on the circulatory system of exercising horses.
Publication Date: 1983-11-01 PubMed ID: 6665313
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Adverse Effects
- Beta2 Agonist
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Blood Pressure
- Bronchodilation
- Cardiovascular Health
- Clenbuterol
- Electrocardiography
- Equine Health
- Exercise Physiology
- Exercise Test
- Heart Rate
- Horses
- Intravenous Administration
- Pharmacology
- Pulmonary Health
- Respiratory Health
- Standardbred Horses
- Treadmill Exercise
- Veterinary Medicine
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.
This study investigated how using the drug clenbuterol hydrochloride affects respiratory and cardiovascular responses in horses during and after exercise. The researchers found that while the drug caused some temporary changes in heart rate and blood gases, it did not have any detrimental effects on the horses’ circulatory systems.
Study Methodology
- The study involved five standardbred geldings (a breed of horse). These horses were given intravenous injections of clenbuterol hydrochloride and saline in a crossover experiment.
- The horses performed a four-step treadmill exercise at varying speeds, with each step lasting for two minutes, apart from step four which lasted four minutes.
- Before exercise, and at various points during and after the exercise, the researchers collected data on various cardiorespiratory parameters. These included arterial and mixed venous blood gases, mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, electrocardiogram, and respiratory rate.
Findings
- After receiving clenbuterol, the horses experienced a brief drop in mean arterial pressure which returned to normal levels after 90 seconds.
- There was no observed change in mean pulmonary artery pressure.
- During exercise, the heart rate of the horses was significantly higher at the end of certain stages, and after 10 minutes of recovery. This was apparent when comparing the results of horses given clenbuterol and those given saline.
- There were no noticeable negative effects on the horses’ electrocardiograms (the record of electrical activity in the heart).
- The results showed that clenbuterol caused an increase in arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) and a decrease in arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) one minute after exercise, compared to the saline group.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that there was no evidence of significant negative effects of clenbuterol on the circulatory system of horses during exercise. While the drug did cause some changes in cardiorespiratory parameters, these were transient and did not indicate detrimental health effects.
Cite This Article
APA
Rose RJ, Allen JR, Brock KA, Clark CR, Hodgson DR, Stewart JH.
(1983).
Effects of clenbuterol hydrochloride on certain respiratory and cardiovascular parameters in horses performing treadmill exercise.
Res Vet Sci, 35(3), 301-305.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Blood Pressure / drug effects
- Clenbuterol / pharmacology
- Ethanolamines / pharmacology
- Exercise Test
- Heart Rate / drug effects
- Hemodynamics / drug effects
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Respiration / drug effects
- Stimulation, Chemical
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Plant DR, Kearns CF, McKeever KH, Lynch GS. Therapeutic clenbuterol treatment does not alter Ca2+ sensitivity of permeabilized fast muscle fibres from exercise trained or untrained horses.. J Muscle Res Cell Motil 2003;24(7):471-6.
- Donaldson LL. A review of the pathophysiology of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in the equine athlete.. Vet Res Commun 1991;15(3):211-26.
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