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Comprehensive Physiology2011; 1(1); 1-37; doi: 10.1002/cphy.c091001

Highly athletic terrestrial mammals: horses and dogs.

Abstract: Evolutionary forces drive beneficial adaptations in response to a complex array of environmental conditions. In contrast, over several millennia, humans have been so enamored by the running/athletic prowess of horses and dogs that they have sculpted their anatomy and physiology based solely upon running speed. Thus, through hundreds of generations, those structural and functional traits crucial for running fast have been optimized. Central among these traits is the capacity to uptake, transport and utilize oxygen at spectacular rates. Moreover, the coupling of the key systems--pulmonary-cardiovascular-muscular is so exquisitely tuned in horses and dogs that oxygen uptake response kinetics evidence little inertia as the animal transitions from rest to exercise. These fast oxygen uptake kinetics minimize Intramyocyte perturbations that can limit exercise tolerance. For the physiologist, study of horses and dogs allows investigation not only of a broader range of oxidative function than available in humans, but explores the very limits of mammalian biological adaptability. Specifically, the unparalleled equine cardiovascular and muscular systems can transport and utilize more oxygen than the lungs can supply. Two consequences of this situation, particularly in the horse, are profound exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia and hypercapnia as well as structural failure of the delicate blood-gas barrier causing pulmonary hemorrhage and, in the extreme, overt epistaxis. This chapter compares and contrasts horses and dogs with humans with respect to the structural and functional features that enable these extraordinary mammals to support their prodigious oxidative and therefore athletic capabilities.
© 2011 American Physiological Society.
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Publication Date: 2011-01-01 PubMed ID: 23737162DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c091001Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates how continuous human intervention over many generations has supremely tailored the structure and function of dogs and horses for athletic prowess. The paper dives into the extraordinary aerobic capacities of these animals and the physiological consequences of such adaptations.

Optimized Athletic Traits in Horses and Dogs

  • The article explores how human intervention over millennia has led to the selection and enhancement of traits in dogs and horses that are beneficial for running and athletics.
  • Structural and functional traits, especially those associated with the rapid uptake, transport and utilization of oxygen, have been honed over hundreds of generations, making these animals highly athletic and efficient runners.
  • The animals’ pulmonary-cardiovascular-muscular system in particular is highly optimized, allowing an almost seamless transition from rest to exercise without significant disruptions in oxygen uptake kinetics.

Unique Physiological Features and Consequences

  • The research highlights unique features of the cardiovascular-muscular systems in horses that allow them to transport and utilize more oxygen than their lungs can supply.
  • Such a capability results in two significant physiological phenomena in horses: profound exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia and hypercapnia, and structural failure of the delicate blood-gas barrier, which can lead to pulmonary hemorrhage and, in extreme cases, overt epistaxis.
  • Studying these features and their implications not only provides insights into mammalian adaptability but also opens up exciting avenues for examining the extent of oxidative function as compared to humans.

Comparative study with humans

  • While shedding light on the extraordinary physiological adaptations of dogs and horses, the paper also contrasts these with human capabilities.
  • Understanding the structural and functional aspects that empower the extraordinary athletic capabilities of these animals also offers a perspective on humans’ athletic capacities and limitations.

Cite This Article

APA
Poole DC, Erickson HH. (2011). Highly athletic terrestrial mammals: horses and dogs. Compr Physiol, 1(1), 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1002/cphy.c091001

Publication

Comprehensive Physiology
ISSN: 2040-4603
NlmUniqueID: 101574442
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 1
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-37

Researcher Affiliations

Poole, David C
  • Departments of Kinesiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA. poole@vet.ksu.edu
Erickson, Howard H

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Cardiovascular System / anatomy & histology
    • Dogs / anatomy & histology
    • Dogs / physiology
    • Exercise Test
    • Hemorrhage / etiology
    • Hemorrhage / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / etiology
    • Horses / anatomy & histology
    • Horses / physiology
    • Humans
    • Locomotion / physiology
    • Lung Diseases / etiology
    • Lung Diseases / veterinary
    • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
    • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
    • Respiratory System / anatomy & histology
    • Running / physiology
    • Species Specificity

    Grant Funding

    • 17731 / PHS HHS
    • HL-50306 / NHLBI NIH HHS

    Citations

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