Effects of training on resting peripheral blood and BAL-derived leucocyte function in horses.
Abstract: In this study, the effects of prolonged, high intensity training on aspects of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-derived leucocyte function were evaluated in 8 horses. All horses undertook a 7 week endurance training programme, followed by 5 weeks of high intensity training (HIT). Thereafter, horses were divided into control (C) and overtraining (OT) groups. The frequency and intensity of training were increased more substantially for horses in the OT group. Training was terminated in week 32 when horses in the OT group demonstrated a significant performance reduction. Peripheral blood and BAL samples were collected from 4 horses in C and OT groups in training weeks 7, 11, 14, 18, 22, 28 and 32. Flow cytometric techniques were used to assess phagocytosis by peripheral blood neutrophils and pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM), and oxidative burst activity of neutrophils, PAM, peripheral blood and BAL-derived lymphocytes. Peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytosis (internalisation) increased during the initial HIT period and decreased from week 16 when the training workload was increased for both groups. The oxidative burst activity of peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes similarly increased and then decreased in response to training. The oxidative burst activity of PAM was reduced towards the end of the overtraining phase of the programme. Pulmonary alveolar macrophage phagocytosis and oxidative burst activity of BAL-derived lymphocytes demonstrated no change throughout the course of the study. There was no difference in results obtained from C or OT group horses, suggesting that protracted HIT, rather than overtraining, was associated with impaired cell function. The detrimental effects observed in peripheral blood neitrophil and PAM function may indicate impaired nonspecific immunity which may adversely affect the health and performance of horses undergoing protracted periods of intense training.
Publication Date: 2001-05-16 PubMed ID: 11352344DOI: 10.2746/042516401776249651Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigated how long-term, high intensity training impacts the functions of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-derived leucocytes in horses and found that prolonged high intensity training, rather than overtraining, was associated with impaired cell function.
Research Methodology
- Eight horses underwent a seven-week endurance training period followed by five weeks of high intensity training (HIT)
- After the initial training period, the horses were divided into two groups: control (C) and overtraining (OT). The training intensity and frequency were substantially increased for the OT group.
- Training was concluded in week 32 when horses in the OT group showed a significant decrease in performance.
- At different time intervals during the training (week 7, 11, 14, 18, 22, 28, and 32), peripheral blood and BAL samples were taken from four horses in each of the C and OT groups.
- Flow cytometric techniques were used to evaluate phagocytosis by peripheral blood neutrophils and pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM), as well as the oxidative burst activity of neutrophils, PAM, peripheral blood, and BAL-derived lymphocytes.
Findings
- Peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytosis increased during the initial HIT period and decreased from week 16 when the training load was increased for both groups.
- The oxidative burst activity of peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes also increased and then decreased in response to training.
- There was a reduction in the oxidative burst activity of PAM towards the end of the overtraining phase.
- However, there were no changes throughout the course of the study in the phagocytosis by PAM and in the oxidative burst activity of BAL-derived lymphocytes.
- There was no difference in the results obtained from the control or overtraining group horses. This suggests that prolonged HIT, rather than overtraining alone, was associated with impaired cell function.
Implications
- The adverse effects seen in peripheral blood neutrophil and PAM functions might indicate an impairment in nonspecific immunity, which could negatively impact the health and performance of horses under prolonged periods of intense training.
Cite This Article
APA
Raidal SL, Rose RJ, Love DN.
(2001).
Effects of training on resting peripheral blood and BAL-derived leucocyte function in horses.
Equine Vet J, 33(3), 238-243.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516401776249651 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Western Australia, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bronchoalveolar Lavage / veterinary
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Flow Cytometry
- Horses / blood
- Horses / immunology
- Leukocytes / physiology
- Macrophages, Alveolar / physiology
- Male
- Phagocytosis
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Pulmonary Alveoli / cytology
- Pulmonary Alveoli / physiology
- Respiratory Burst
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Górniak W, Cholewińska P, Szeligowska N, Wołoszyńska M, Soroko M, Czyż K. Effect of Intense Exercise on the Level of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes Phyla in the Digestive System of Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 24;11(2).
- Escribano BM, Castejón FM, Vivo R, Santisteban R, Agüera EI, Rubio MD. Effects of training on phagocytic and oxidative metabolism of peripheral neutrophils in horses exercised in the aerobic-anaerobic transition area. Vet Res Commun 2005 Feb;29(2):149-58.
- Malm C. Exercise immunology: the current state of man and mouse. Sports Med 2004;34(9):555-66.
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