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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Interday variation and effect of transportation on indirect ...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2012; 54(1); 37; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-37

Interday variation and effect of transportation on indirect blood pressure measurements, plasma endothelin-1 and serum cortisol in Standardbred and Icelandic horses.

Abstract: Systemic hypertension is a prominent feature in humans with metabolic syndrome (MS) and this is partly caused by an enhanced endothelin-1 (ET-1) mediated vasoconstriction. There are indications that systemic hypertension might be a feature in equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) but if ET-1 is involved in the development of hypertension in horses is not known. Increased levels of cortisol have also been found in humans with MS but there are no reports of this in horses. Before blood pressure, plasma ET-1 and serum cortisol can be evaluated in horses with EMS, it is necessary to investigate the interday variation of these parameters on clinically healthy horses. The aims of the present study were therefore to evaluate the interday variation and influence of transportation on systemic blood pressure, plasma ET-1 and serum cortisol in healthy Standardbred and Icelandic horses, and to detect potential breed differences. Methods: Nine horses of each breed were included in the study. Blood pressure was measured and blood samples were collected between 6 and 9 am on two separate days. Eight of the horses (four of each breed) were transported to a new stable were they stayed overnight. The next morning, the sampling procedure was repeated. Results: The interday variation was higher for plasma ET-1 (37%) than for indirect pressure measurements (8-21%) and serum cortisol (18%). There were no differences in systemic blood pressure between the two breeds. The Icelandic horses had significantly lower serum cortisol and significantly higher plasma ET-1 concentrations compared to the Standardbred horses. Plasma ET-1 was significantly elevated after transportation, but systemic blood pressure and serum cortisol did not differ from the values obtained in the home environment. Conclusions: Indirect blood pressure, plasma ET-1 and serum cortisol are of interest as markers for cardiovascular dysfunction in horses with EMS. The elevated plasma ET-1 concentrations recorded after transportation was likely caused by a stress response. This needs to be considered when evaluating plasma ET-1 in horses after transportation. The differences detected in plasma ET-1 and serum cortisol between the two breeds might be related to differences in genetic setup, training status as well as management conditions.
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Publication Date: 2012-06-10 PubMed ID: 22682151PubMed Central: PMC3503793DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-37Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

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 is about monitoring blood pressure, plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1), and cortisol levels in healthy Standardbred and Icelandic horses. The study seeks to understand the interday variation of these parameters and influence of transportation, as well as potential breed differences.

Purpose and Methodology of the Research

  • The study stemmed from findings in humans showing that systemic hypertension, an increased blood pressure condition, is somewhat caused by an enhanced endothelin-1 (ET-1) mediated vasoconstriction which is often found in metabolic syndrome (MS)
  • There are suggestions that systemic hypertension could also occur in equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), but it is unknown whether ET-1 is involved in this process. Likewise, increased cortisol levels have been noted in humans with MS yet haven’t been reported in horses
  • Before these factors can be studied in horses with EMS, researchers decided to understand their interday variability and effects of transportation on these elements in healthy horses
  • The methodology involved nine horses from each of two breeds—Standardbred and Icelandic—being included in the study. Blood pressures were taken and blood samples collected between 6 and 9 am on two separate days. Some of the horses were also transported to a different stable overnight, with samples taken again the next morning

Results from the Research

  • The study found that interday variation was higher for plasma ET-1 (37%) than for blood pressure measurements (8-21%) and serum cortisol (18%). This means that plasma ET-1 levels could vary more on different days compared to blood pressure or cortisol levels
  • No differences were found in systemic blood pressure between the two breeds of horses. However, Icelandic horses had significantly lower cortisol and significantly higher plasma ET-1 concentrations compared to the Standardbred horses
  • Plasma ET-1 was notably elevated after transportation, suggesting a stress response, but blood pressure and serum cortisol levels remained unchanged. This indicates that changes in a horse’s environment can significantly impact their plasma ET-1 levels

Conclusions and Implications of the Research

  • The results indicate that indirect blood pressure, plasma ET-1, and cortisol could be useful markers for cardiovascular dysfunction in horses with EMS. The fact that plasma ET-1 levels increased after transportation implies that this needs to be taken into account when evaluating plasma ET-1 in transported horses
  • The differences in plasma ET-1 and cortisol between the two breeds might stem from their different genetic makeup, training, and management conditions. This needs further study for confirmation

Cite This Article

APA
Söder J, Bröjer JT, Nostell KE. (2012). Interday variation and effect of transportation on indirect blood pressure measurements, plasma endothelin-1 and serum cortisol in Standardbred and Icelandic horses. Acta Vet Scand, 54(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-54-37

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 37

Researcher Affiliations

Söder, Josefin
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, Uppsala, S-750 07, Sweden.
Bröjer, Johan T
    Nostell, Katarina Ea

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Blood Pressure
      • Blood Pressure Determination / instrumentation
      • Blood Pressure Determination / veterinary
      • Endothelin-1 / blood
      • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
      • Female
      • Horses / genetics
      • Horses / physiology
      • Hydrocortisone / blood
      • Male
      • Metabolic Syndrome / blood
      • Metabolic Syndrome / veterinary
      • Oscillometry / instrumentation
      • Oscillometry / veterinary
      • Radioimmunoassay / veterinary
      • Time Factors
      • Transportation

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