Effects of total parenteral nutrition and electrolyte solutions with or without glutamine on the hormonal profiles of horses subjected to exploratory laparotomy.
Abstract: Starvation and nutritional support clinically influence horses, particularly during the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and post-surgical recovery. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of different nutritional strategies on the endocrine response of horses subjected to exploratory laparotomy followed by food deprivation. Sixteen healthy adult horses were randomly allocated into four groups (n=4) based on treatments: enteral fluid therapy without (ENTFL) or with glutamine (ENTGL), and parenteral fluid therapy with glucose (PARFL) or total parenteral nutrition with glutamine (PARGL). Treatments were administered for 144 hours of starvation followed by 144 hours of refeeding. Blood samples were collected at five time points for hormonal (leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, cortisol, insulin, free T3, and free T4) analyses. Serum insulin and glucose significantly varied across all groups, with the PARGL group exhibiting hyperinsulinemia and persistent hyperglycemia during starvation. No significant alterations in free T3 or T4 concentrations were observed, which is potentially attributed to elevated serum glucose levels maintaining thyroid hormone stability. Notably, cortisol levels increased in the ENTGL group 72 hours after the onset of starvation. Ghrelin significantly increased only in the PARGL group during starvation, and it decreased after refeeding. Adiponectin levels were enhanced in the PARFL group during deprivation, which dropped after refeeding. Starvation reduced leptin levels in the ENTGL and PARGL groups, which were increased after refeeding. Despite hormonal changes, enteral nutrition maintained glycemic control, indicating stable intestinal absorptive function. These findings highlight the influence of nutritional route and composition, especially glutamine and glucose, on endocrine adaptation during starvation and refeeding. However, limitations such as the small sample size and absence of an absolute fasting group constrain the interpretations. Future studies involving broader hormonal panels and longer follow-up can better clarify neuroendocrine regulation during nutritional stress in horses. A inanição e o suporte nutricional são aspectos clínicos relevantes na medicina equina, especialmente durante o manejo de doenças gastrointestinais e na recuperação pós-operatória. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de diferentes estratégias nutricionais sobre a resposta endócrina de equinos submetidos à privação alimentar após laparotomia exploratória. Dezesseis cavalos adultos saudáveis foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos (n=4): hidratação enteral sem (ENTFL) ou com glutamina (ENTGL), e hidratação parenteral com glicose (PARFL) ou nutrição parenteral total com glutamina (PARGL). Os tratamentos foram administrados durante 144 horas de inanição seguidas de 144 horas de realimentação. Amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas em cinco momentos para análise hormonal (leptina, grelina, adiponectina, cortisol, insulina, T3 livre e T4 livre). Foram observadas variações significativas nas concentrações séricas de insulina e glicose em todos os grupos, com hiperinsulinemia e hiperglicemia persistente no grupo PARGL durante a fase de inanição. Não foram identificadas alterações significativas nos níveis de T3 e T4 livres, possivelmente devido à manutenção da glicemia elevada. Os níveis de cortisol aumentaram 72 horas após o início da inanição, especialmente no grupo ENTGL. A grelina aumentou apenas no grupo PARGL durante a inanição e reduziu após a realimentação. A adiponectina aumentou no grupo PARFL na privação e reduziu após a realimentação. A leptina diminuiu nos grupos ENTGL e PARGL durante a inanição e aumentou após a realimentação. Apesar das alterações hormonais, a via enteral manteve o controle glicêmico, indicando preservação da capacidade absortiva intestinal. Este estudo destaca a influência da via e composição nutricional, especialmente a presença de glutamina e glicose, na adaptação endócrina durante a privação e realimentação. Limitações como o número reduzido de animais e a ausência de um grupo em jejum absoluto restringem a interpretação dos dados. Estudos futuros devem ampliar o painel hormonal e o tempo de acompanhamento para melhor compreensão da regulação neuroendócrina em situações de estresse nutricional em equinos.
Publication Date: 2026-01-14 PubMed ID: 41550891PubMed Central: PMC12807115DOI: 10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm005725Google Scholar: Lookup
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APA
Ferreira C, Palhares MS, de Melo UP, Leme FOP, Maranhão RPA, Garcia HC, Gheller VA.
(2026).
Effects of total parenteral nutrition and electrolyte solutions with or without glutamine on the hormonal profiles of horses subjected to exploratory laparotomy.
Braz J Vet Med, 48, e005725.
https://doi.org/10.29374/2527-2179.bjvm005725 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau (Uninassau). Natal, RN, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Departamento Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias. Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Pampulha, MG. Brazil.
- Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau (Uninassau). Natal, RN, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Departamento Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias. Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Pampulha, MG. Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Departamento Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias. Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Pampulha, MG. Brazil.
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Pampulha, MG. Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Departamento Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinárias. Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Pampulha, MG. Brazil.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest in the preparation, execution, and dissemination of the results of this study.
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