Hematologic and serum biochemical variables and plasma corticotropin concentration in healthy aged horses.
Abstract: To compare hematologic and serum biochemical variables and plasma ACTH concentration between healthy horses 5 to 12 years old and those more than 20 years old. Methods: 30 healthy horses 5 to 12 years old and 30 healthy horses more than 20 years old. Methods: Venous blood was collected from all horses, and CBC and serum biochemical analysis were performed for each horse. Plasma ACTH concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Student's paired t-test or the Mann-Whitney rank sum test was used to compare values between control and aged horse groups. Results: Compared with values for control horses, aged horses had significantly higher erythrocyte mean cell volume and mean cell hemoglobin. Aged horses also had significantly decreased total lymphocyte count. Five aged horses had lymphocyte count that was lower than the low reference limit as established for horses in our laboratory. Differences between control and aged horses for serum biochemical or plasma ACTH values were not significant. Conclusions: Compared with younger adult horses, those more than 20 years old have some hematologic differences, but there is no apparent effect of aging on baseline plasma ACTH concentration. Conclusions: It is important to establish age-matched control values for optimal interpretation of clinicopathologic variables.
Publication Date: 1998-10-22 PubMed ID: 9781456
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the differences in blood and serum biochemical values as well as the concentration of plasma ACTH (a hormone produced during stress) in young (5 to 12 years old) and aged (over 20 years old) healthy horses. The results indicated that aged horses showed some differences in those values, but there was no significant effect of aging on the baseline concentration of the plasma ACTH.
Methodology
- The researchers compared hematologic (study related to blood), serum biochemical variables (chemical substances in blood serum that can indicate health status), and ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone, a hormone secreted under stress) concentration levels in two groups of horses.
- These two groups consisted of 30 healthy horses each, one group in the age range of 5-12 years (Control) and the other aged more than 20 years (Test).
- The researchers collected venous blood from all the horses and performed complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemical analyses.
- The concentration of ACTH hormone in plasma, a crucial stress response hormone, was examined using a radioimmunoassay technique.
- Comparison of the measured variable values between the control and test group of horses was done using the Student’s paired t-test or the Mann-Whitney rank sum test statistical methods.
Results
- The results showed that compared to the control group, aged horses had significantly higher erythrocyte mean cell volume and mean cell hemoglobin. Erythrocyte mean cell volume and mean cell hemoglobin give information about the size and content of red blood cells.
- An observation was made that the total count of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells responsible for immune response, was significantly lower in aged horses. Five of the aged horses even had a lymphocyte count below the low reference limit established in their laboratory.
- However, there were no significant differences noted in the serum biochemical or plasma ACTH values of the young and aged horses.
Conclusions
- The study concludes that aging brings about some changes in hematologic values in horses but does not affect the baseline levels of plasma ACTH concentration.
- Thus, it highlights the importance of establishing age-matched control values for accurate understanding and holistic interpretation of clinicopathologic variables.
Cite This Article
APA
McFarlane D, Sellon DC, Gaffney D, Hedgpeth V, Papich M, Gibbs S.
(1998).
Hematologic and serum biochemical variables and plasma corticotropin concentration in healthy aged horses.
Am J Vet Res, 59(10), 1247-1251.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine and Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
- Aging / blood
- Animals
- Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
- Erythrocyte Count / veterinary
- Erythrocyte Indices / veterinary
- Erythrocyte Volume / veterinary
- Female
- Hemoglobins / analysis
- Horses / blood
- Lymphocyte Count / veterinary
- Male
- Platelet Count / veterinary
- Reference Values
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Silva G, Queiroga F, Ferreira M, Andrade D, Silvestre-Ferreira AC. Establishment of Reference Intervals of Hematological Parameters and Evaluation of Sex and Age Effect in the Miranda Donkey. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 17;13(14).
- Inoue Y, Ono T, Hisaeda K, Yamada Y, Hata A, Shimokawa T, Miyama, Shibano K, Ohzawa E, Kitagawa H, Iwata E. Relationships between the age and blood test results or body sizes in Noma horses. J Equine Sci 2022 Jul;33(2):27-30.
- Chikhaoui M, Smail F, Adda F. Blood hematological values of Barb horses in Algeria. Open Vet J 2018;8(3):330-334.
- Seddighi R, Doherty TJ. Anesthesia of the geriatric equine. Vet Med (Auckl) 2012;3:53-64.
- Secombe CJ, Tan RHH, Perara DI, Byrne DP, Watts SP, Wearn JG. The Effect of Geographic Location on Circannual Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Plasma Concentrations in Horses in Australia. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Sep;31(5):1533-1540.
- Ememe MU, Abdullahi US, Sackey AK, Ayo JO, Mshelia WP, Edeh RE. Effects of a joint supplement whose main components are resveratrol and hyaluronic acid on some biochemical parameters in aged lame horses. J Equine Sci 2016;27(1):19-22.
- Rendle DI, Duz M, Beech J, Parkin T, Durham AE. Investigation of single and paired measurements of adrenocorticotropic hormone for the diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):355-61.
- Katiyatiya CL, Muchenje V, Mushunje A. Seasonal variation in coat characteristics, tick loads, cortisol levels, some physiological parameters and temperature humidity index on Nguni cows raised in low- and high-input farms. Int J Biometeorol 2015 Jun;59(6):733-43.
- Takasu M, Nagatani N, Tozaki T, Kakoi H, Maeda M, Murase T, Mukoyama H. Hematological and biochemical reference values for the endangered kiso horse. J Equine Sci 2013;24(4):75-8.
- Miranda ALS, Antunes BC, Minozzo JC, Lima SA, Botelho AFM, Campos MTG, Chávez-Olórtegui C, Soto-Blanco B. The Health Status of Horses Used for at Least Six Complete Cycles of Loxoscelic Antivenom Production. Toxins (Basel) 2023 Sep 26;15(10).
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