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American journal of veterinary research2002; 63(11); 1481-1487; doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.1481

Effects of exercise on gastric volume and pH in the proximal portion of the stomach of horses.

Abstract: To assess effects of exercise on a treadmill with changes in gastric volume and pH in the proximal portion of the stomach of horses. Methods: 3 healthy adult horses. Methods: A polyester bag of approximately 1,600 mL was placed into the proximal portion of the stomach of each horse via a nasogastric tube. Changes in bag volume, determined by an electronic barostat, were recorded before, during, and after a training session on a treadmill with and without prior withholding of food. In separate experiments, pH in the proximal portion of the stomach was continuously recorded during exercise for fed and food-withheld conditions. Finally, changes in intra-abdominal and intragastric pressure were simultaneously recorded during a training session. Results: Bag volume rapidly decreased to nearly zero during trotting and galloping. Conversely, a return to walking resulted in a sharp increase in volume and a return to pre-exercise values. Intragastric and intra-abdominal pressures increased almost in parallel with walking, trotting, galloping, and galloping on a slope. Gastric pH decreased rapidly to < 4 at the beginning of walking, continued to decrease during trotting and galloping, and remained low until a return to walking. Conclusions: Increased intra-abdominal pressure during intense exercise in horses causes gastric compression, pushing acidic contents into the proximal, squamous-lined region of the stomach. Increased duration of acid exposure directly related to daily duration of exercise may be the reason that squamous lesions tend to develop or worsen when horses are in intensive training programs.
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Publication Date: 2002-11-14 PubMed ID: 12428654DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.1481Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • 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 research examines the impact of exercise on the volume and pH levels in the upper section of a horse’s stomach by evaluating changes observed when they exercise on a treadmill. It suggests that increased abdominal pressure during high-intensity exercise results in the compression of the stomach and the movement of acidic contents into the upper region of the stomach, which can exacerbate gastric lesions in horses undergoing intensive training.

Research Methodology

  • The study was conducted on three healthy adult horses. A bag with a volume of about 1,600 mL was inserted into the upper section of the horse’s stomach using a nasogastric tube. This experiment was intended to measure and record changes in the bag’s volume during, before, and after the horse’s training session on the treadmill both in the presence and absence of food.
  • In a separate experimental setup, the pH levels in the upper section of the horse’s stomach were continuously recorded during exercise when the horses were fed and when food was withheld.
  • Other variables measured during the training session included intra-abdominal pressure and intragastric pressure.

Findings and Data Interpretation

  • The research reported that the bag’s volume decreased almost to zero as the horses started to trot and gallop. However, when they returned to walking, there was a sharp increase in the bag’s volume, returning it to its original volume before exercising.
  • The rise in intragastric and intra-abdominal pressures was observed to be almost equivalent during walking, trotting, and galloping. Intense exercise led to an increase in the intra-abdominal pressure, resulting in the compression of the stomach.
  • As the horses began walking, the gastric pH level rapidly decreased to less than 4, it continued to drop further during trotting and galloping, and remained low till the horses returned to walking.

Conclusion

  • The results indicated that intense exercise in horses leads to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, which in turn results in gastric compression.
  • This compression pushes the acidic gastric contents into the proximal, squamous-lined region of the stomach.
  • The findings also suggested that prolonged exposure to acidic contents, directly related to the duration of daily exercise, might worsen or instigate the development of squamous lesions in horses partaking in intense training programs.

Cite This Article

APA
Lorenzo-Figueras M, Merritt AM. (2002). Effects of exercise on gastric volume and pH in the proximal portion of the stomach of horses. Am J Vet Res, 63(11), 1481-1487. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.1481

Publication

American journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0002-9645
NlmUniqueID: 0375011
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 63
Issue: 11
Pages: 1481-1487

Researcher Affiliations

Lorenzo-Figueras, Mireia
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610-0136, USA.
Merritt, Alfred M

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / veterinary
    • Female
    • Gait
    • Gastric Acid / metabolism
    • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
    • Horse Diseases / etiology
    • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
    • Horses / physiology
    • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
    • Male
    • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
    • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
    • Stomach / anatomy & histology
    • Stomach / physiology
    • Stomach Ulcer / etiology
    • Stomach Ulcer / physiopathology
    • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary

    Citations

    This article has been cited 22 times.
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