Abstract: The prevalence of gastric disorders in high-performance horses, especially gastric ulceration, ranges from 50 to 90%. These pathological conditions have negative impacts on athletic performance and health. This study was designed to evaluate changes in gastric pH during a 24 h period and to compare gastrin concentrations at different time points in horses undergoing general inhalation anesthesia and dorsal recumbency. Twenty-two mixed-breed mares weighing 400 ± 50 kg and aged 8 ± 2 years were used. Of these, eight were fasted for 8 h and submitted to 90 min of general inhalation anesthesia in dorsal recumbency. Gastric juice samples were collected prior to anesthesia (T0), and then at 15 min intervals during anesthesia (T15-T90). After recovery from anesthesia (45 ± 1 min), samples were collected every hour for 24 h (T1 to T24) for gastric juice pH measurement. During this period, mares had free access to Bermuda grass hay and water and were fed a commercial concentrate twice (T4 and T16). In a second group (control), four non-anesthetized mares were submitted to 8 h of fasting followed by nasogastric intubation. Gastric juice samples were then collected at T0, T15, T30, T45, T60, T75, and T90. During this period, mares did not receive food or water. After 45 min, mares had free access to Bermuda grass hay and water, and gastric juice samples were collected every hour for four hours (T1 to T4). In a third group comprising ten non-fasted, non-anesthetized mares with free access to Bermuda grass hay and water, gastric juice samples were collected 30 min after concentrate intake (T0). In anesthetized mares, blood gastrin levels were measured prior to anesthesia (8 h fasting; baseline), during recovery from anesthesia, and 4 months after the anesthetic procedure, 90 min after the morning meal. Mean values of gastric juice pH remained acidic during general anesthesia. Mean pH values were within the physiological range (4.52 ± 1.69) and did not differ significantly between time points (T15-T90; > 0.05). After recovery from anesthesia, mean gastric pH values increased and remained in the alkaline range throughout the 24 h period of evaluation. Significant differences were observed between T0 (4.88 ± 2.38), T5 (7.08 ± 0.89), T8 (7.43 ± 0.22), T9 (7.28 ± 0.36), T11 (7.26 ± 0.71), T13 (6.74 ± 0.90), and T17 (6.94 ± 1.04) ( < 0.05). The mean gastric juice pH ranged from weakly acidic to neutral or weakly alkaline in all groups, regardless of food and water intake (i.e., in the fasted, non-fasted, and fed states). Mean gastric pH measured in the control group did not differ from values measured during the 24 h post-anesthesia period or in the non-fasted group. Gastrin concentrations increased significantly during the post-anesthetic period compared to baseline (20.15 ± 7.65 pg/mL and 15.15 ± 3.82 pg/mL respectively; < 0.05). General inhalation anesthesia and dorsal recumbency did not affect gastric juice pH, which remained acidic and within the physiological range. Gastric juice pH was weakly alkaline after recovery from anesthesia and in the fasted and fed states. Serum gastrin levels increased in response to general inhalation anesthesia in dorsal recumbency and were not influenced by fasting. Preventive pharmacological measures are not required in horses submitted to general anesthesia and dorsal recumbency.
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This study investigates how inhalation anesthesia given to horses in a lying down position impacts stomach acid levels and gastrin concentrations. The findings suggest that anesthesia and the lying down position do not contribute to changes in gastric acidity but do result in heightened levels of gastrin, a hormone that stimulates acid production in the stomach.
Study Design and Groups
The study comprised of 22 mares that were used for three separate experimental groups.
The first group (eight mares) fasted for eight hours then underwent 90 minutes of inhalation anesthesia in a lying down position. Gastric juice samples were taken before anesthesia and every 15 minutes during anesthesia, and hourly for the subsequent 24 hours.
The second group (four non-anesthetized mares) fasted for eight hours and had gastric juices sampled at specific intervals over a period of four hours.
The third group (ten non-fasted, non-anesthetized mares) had free access to food and water. Gastric juice samples were taken 30 minutes after eating.
Findings on Gastric pH and Gastrin Levels
Throughout the anesthesia, the gastric pH values stayed acidic and within a normal physiological range.
After recovery from anesthesia, gastric pH values increased, indicating an alkaline environment for the 24-hour measurement period.
It was found that the average gastric pH varied from mildly acidic to neutral or weakly alkaline across all groups, regardless of food and water intake.
Gastrin levels in the anesthetized horses significantly increased during recovery from anesthesia compared to the levels before anesthesia was administered.
Implication of Findings
The results reveal that anesthesia and the lying down position do not alter gastric juice acidity in horses.
However, inhalation anesthesia appeared to cause an increase in serum gastrin concentrations during recovery, implying that the horses’ bodies were attempting to compensate for changes in stomach pH during the recovery period.
Despite these findings showing an increase in gastrin concentrations during the recovery phase, levels of this hormone were not influenced by fasting.
The research concluded that there is no need for preventive pharmaceutical measures for horses undergoing inhalation anesthesia in a dorsal recumbency position.
Cite This Article
APA
Guerrero JLS, Brito PHS, Ferreira MA, Arantes JA, Rusch E, Oliveira BVDS, Velasco-Bolaños J, Carregaro AB, Dória RGS.
(2024).
Evaluation of Gastric pH and Gastrin Concentrations in Horses Subjected to General Inhalation Anesthesia in Dorsal Recumbency.
Animals (Basel), 14(8), 1183.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081183
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Brito, Pedro Henrique Salles
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Ferreira, Marília Alves
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Arantes, Julia de Assis
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Rusch, Elidiane
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Oliveira, Brenda Valéria Dos Santos
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Velasco-Bolaños, Juan
Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Agropecuarias (Group GIsCA), Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Institución Universitaria Visión de las Américas, Pereira 660003, Colombia.
Research Group Calidad de Leche y Epidemiología Veterinária (CLEV), Universidad de Caldas, Manizales 170004, Colombia.
Carregaro, Adriano Bonfim
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Dória, Renata Gebara Sampaio
Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), 225 Duque de Caxias Norte Avenue, Pirassununga 13635-900, SP, Brazil.
Grant Funding
2023/13378-8 and 2020/09633-0 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Su00e3o Paulo
309701/2022-8 / National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
Finance Code 001 / Coordenau00e7u00e3o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nu00edvel Superior
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