Hormonal responses to high and low planes of nutrition in weanling thoroughbreds.
Abstract: Growth-related skeletal diseases in young horses have been associated with high planes of nutrition, although the mechanisms underlying such an association have not been determined. It is likely that nutrition-induced effects on growth rate or growth quality involve the endocrine system. Hormonal and metabolic responses to the ingestion of meals containing either 80% (diet A) or 160% (diet B) of National Research Council energy and protein recommendations were examined in eight Thoroughbred weanling horses after 3 wk of dietary adaptation. After 24 h fasts, prefeeding serum concentrations of thyroxine (T4) and insulin and plasma concentrations of glucose, total protein, total triglycerides, creatinine, Ca and P were similar regardless of which diet the horses had been consuming. Serum cortisol concentrations were higher (P less than .05) in horses when fasted from diet B. Thyroxine, insulin and glucose concentrations increased during ingestion of both meals. During the first hour after ingestion of diet A, T4 concentrations increased to about 150% of fasting concentrations, whereas after diet B, T4 concentrations decreased to about 85% of fasting concentrations. Concentrations of T4 were not different from fasting concentrations 4 h after the ingestion of both diets. Glucose concentrations increased during the first hour postprandially, from about 105 mg/dl to about 165 mg/dl. However, glucose decreased more rapidly after ingestion of diet B. Serum insulin concentrations increased more rapidly after ingestion of diet B. Cortisol concentrations decreased after both meals, and the concentrations of the other metabolites measured were not affected by diet level or by meal consumption.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1984-09-01 PubMed ID: 6386779DOI: 10.2527/jas1984.593658xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research article explores the role of nutrition in growth-related skeletal diseases in young horses, specifically Thoroughbreds. It evaluates the hormonal responses and metabolic impacts of two distinctive diet plans on these horses, indicating a clear distinction in their reactions to diets with different energy and protein contents.
Study Overview
- The study monitored the hormonal responses among eight Thoroughbred weanling horses that were provided with two different diet plans for a period of three weeks. The diets contained either 80% (the low diet A) or 160% (the high diet B) of the National Research Council’s recommendations for energy and protein intake.
- The aim of the study was to understand the relationship between nutrition and growth-related skeletal diseases commonly noticed in young horses.
- The researchers acknowledged that while a link between high nutritional intake and these years early diseases has been made, the mechanisms facilitating this association remain unclear.
Hormone and Metabolic Observation
- After 24-hour fasting periods, researchers observed that the prefeeding serum concentrations of hormones thyroxine (T4) and insulin, and plasma concentrations of glucose, total protein, total triglycerides, creatinine, Ca and P were similar regardless of which diet the horses had been consuming.
- However, horses that had been eating the high diet B had higher serum cortisol concentrations when they were fasted.
Post-Meal Observations
- Post-meal, both thyroxine, insulin, and glucose concentrations increased in horses on both diet plans.
- Interestingly, after consuming diet A, T4 concentrations increased to about 150% of fasting concentrations. In contrast, after consuming diet B, T4 concentrations fell to about 85% of fasting concentrations.
- Glucose concentrations rose during the first hour after the meal, but decreased more rapidly among horses that fed on diet B.
- Insulin levels also rose more rapidly in horses that had been on diet B.
- In general, cortisol levels decreased after meals, regardless of the diet, and the concentrations of the other measured metabolites were not affected by diet or meal consumption.
Implications
- The study indicates that the type of diet and its nutritional content can significantly influence the hormonal and metabolic responses in young Thoroughbred horses.
- This can have implications for understanding and potentially mitigating the impact of diet on growth-related skeletal diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Glade MJ, Gupta S, Reimers TJ.
(1984).
Hormonal responses to high and low planes of nutrition in weanling thoroughbreds.
J Anim Sci, 59(3), 658-665.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1984.593658x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / metabolism
- Blood Proteins / metabolism
- Calcium / metabolism
- Creatinine / blood
- Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
- Horses / physiology
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Insulin / blood
- Phosphorus / metabolism
- Thyroxine / blood
- Triglycerides / blood
- Weaning
Grant Funding
- RR-07042 / NCRR NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Vasconcelos AR, Cabral-Costa JV, Mazucanti CH, Scavone C, Kawamoto EM. The Role of Steroid Hormones in the Modulation of Neuroinflammation by Dietary Interventions. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2016;7:9.
- Peugnet P, Robles M, Mendoza L, Wimel L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Guillaume D, Camous S, Berthelot V, Toquet MP, Richard E, Sandersen C, Chaffaux S, Lejeune JP, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P. Effects of moderate amounts of barley in late pregnancy on growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status of pre-weaning horses. PLoS One 2015;10(4):e0122596.
- Riley CB, Scott WM, Caron JP, Fretz PB, Bailey JV, Barber SM. Osteochondritis dessicans and subchondral cystic lesions in draft horses: a retrospective study. Can Vet J 1998 Oct;39(10):627-33.
- Ferreira C, Palhares MS, de Melo UP, Leme FOP, Maranhão RPA, Garcia HC, Gheller VA. Effects of total parenteral nutrition and electrolyte solutions with or without glutamine on the hormonal profiles of horses subjected to exploratory laparotomy. Braz J Vet Med 2026;48:e005725.
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