Energetic cost of breathing, body composition, and pulmonary function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine whether horses with naturally occurring, severe chronic recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) 1). have a greater resting energy expenditure (REE) than control horses, 2). suffer body mass depletion, and 3). have significantly decreased REE after bronchodilation and, therefore, also 4). whether increased work of breathing contributes to the cachexia seen in some horses with RAO. Six RAO horses and six control horses underwent indirect calorimetric measures of REE and pulmonary function testing using the esophageal balloon-pneumotachograph method before and after treatment with ipratropium bromide, a parasympatholytic bronchodilator agent, at 4-h intervals for a 24-h period. Body condition scoring was performed, and an estimate of fat mass was determined via B-mode ultrasonography. O(2) and CO(2) fractions, respiratory airflow, respiratory rate, and pleural pressure changes were recorded, and O(2) consumption, CO(2) production, REE, pulmonary resistance, dynamic elastance, and tidal volume were calculated. In addition, we performed lung function testing and calorimetry both before and after sedation in two control horses. RAO horses had significantly lower body condition scores (2.8 +/- 1.0 vs. 6.4 +/- 1.2) and significantly greater O(2) consumption than controls (4.93 +/- 1.30 vs. 2.93 +/- 0.70 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)). After bronchodilation, there was no significant difference in O(2) consumption between RAO horses and controls, although there remained evidence of residual airway obstruction. There was a strong correlation between O(2) consumption and indexes of airway obstruction. Xylazine sedation was not associated with changes in pulmonary function but did result in markedly decreased REE in controls.
Publication Date: 2004-02-13 PubMed ID: 14966015DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00629.2003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research aimed to determine if horses suffering from severe chronic recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) have higher resting energy expenditure (REE), experience body mass depletion, and observe a decrease in REE after bronchodilation. It also aimed to understand if increased work of breathing contributes to weight loss observed in some horses with RAO.
Methodology
- The study included six RAO horses and six control horses.
- They used indirect calorimetric measures to assess the REE and pulmonary function of the horses.
- Testing was conducted using the esophageal balloon-pneumotachograph method.
- Both before and after the administration of ipratropium bromide, a parasympatholytic bronchodilator agent, measurements were taken at 4-hour intervals for 24 hours.
- The body condition of the horses was scored and an estimation of their fat mass was determined through B-mode ultrasonography.
- To calculate the REE, pulmonary resistance, dynamic elastance, and tidal volume, the fractions of O2 and CO2, respiratory airflow, rate, and pleural pressure changes were recorded.
- Additional lung function tests and calorimetry before and after sedation were performed on two control horses.
Findings
- Horses with RAO had significantly lower body condition scores and a significantly higher consumption of O2 compared to the control horses.
- This indicates that horses with RAO may suffer from higher resting energy expenditure (REE) and body mass depletion, providing a potential explanation for weight loss observed in some RAO-affected horses.
- Post bronchodilation, there was no significant difference in O2 consumption between RAO and control horses, although signs of residual airway obstruction remained.
- This showed that bronchodilation had its effect on reducing the REE of RAO-affected horses, drawing down the O2 consumption to levels similar to control horses.
- A strong correlation was found to exist between O2 consumption and indexes of airway obstruction, signifying that the severity of airway obstruction directly influences the oxygen consumption and thus the REE.
- Xylazine sedation resulted in a significant decrease in REE in control horses but didn’t show any changes in lung function.
Cite This Article
APA
Mazan MR, Deveney EF, DeWitt S, Bedenice D, Hoffman A.
(2004).
Energetic cost of breathing, body composition, and pulmonary function in horses with recurrent airway obstruction.
J Appl Physiol (1985), 97(1), 91-97.
https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00629.2003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. melissa.mazan@tufts.edu
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / administration & dosage
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / therapeutic use
- Aerosols
- Airway Obstruction / drug therapy
- Airway Obstruction / physiopathology
- Airway Obstruction / veterinary
- Animals
- Body Composition / physiology
- Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage
- Bronchodilator Agents / therapeutic use
- Calorimetry, Indirect
- Carbon Dioxide / blood
- Chronic Disease
- Elasticity
- Energy Metabolism / physiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
- Lung / physiopathology
- Male
- Oxygen / blood
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Recurrence
- Respiratory Function Tests
- Respiratory Mechanics / physiology
- Xylazine / administration & dosage
- Xylazine / therapeutic use
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Stucchi L, Ferrucci F, Bullone M, Dellacà RL, Lavoie JP. Within-Breath Oscillatory Mechanics in Horses Affected by Severe Equine Asthma in Exacerbation and in Remission of the Disease.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 21;12(1).
- Couetil L, Cardwell JM, Leguillette R, Mazan M, Richard E, Bienzle D, Bullone M, Gerber V, Ivester K, Lavoie JP, Martin J, Moran G, Niedźwiedź A, Pusterla N, Swiderski C. Equine Asthma: Current Understanding and Future Directions.. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:450.
- Silva SR, Payan-Carreira R, Guedes CM, Coelho S, Santos AS. Correlations between cresty neck scores and post-mortem nape fat measurements in horses, obtained after photographic image analysis.. Acta Vet Scand 2016 Oct 20;58(Suppl 1):60.
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