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Regional gastric pH measurement in horses and foals.
Abstract: The pH of the gastric mucosal surface and gastric content was measured in 18 foals (mean age: 20 days) and 27 horses (mean age: 2.9 years) with a pH electrode passed through an endoscope biopsy channel. A reference electrode was attached to a shaved area on the neck. pH Measurements of the gastric mucosal surface at the dorsal squamous fundus (SF), squamous mucosa adjacent to the margo plicatus (MP), glandular fundus (GF) and the fluid or feed contents of the stomach were recorded in duplicate for each animal. In adult horses, the SF pH was greatest (5.46 +/- 1.82), with a decreasing pH ventrally toward the MP (4.12 +/- 1.62), to the glandular fundic mucosa (3.09 +/- 1.90), and fluid contents (2.72 +/- 1.86). The differences in pH at each site within the stomach were significant (P < 0.05). In foals, mean pH measurement of the SF was 4.88 +/- 1.30, the MP was 4.92 +/- 1.29, the GF was 2.10 +/- 1.45, milk and fluid contents was 1.85 +/- 0.53 (six foals), and feed contents was 3.39 +/- 1.77 (12 foals). The pH of the SF and MP were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than that of feed contents, which was significantly greater (P < 0.05) than that of the glandular mucosal surface and fluid contents. The results indicate a dorsal to ventral pH gradient of the gastric mucosal surface in adult horses, and that gastric acid secretion is competent in young foals.
Publication Date: 1989-06-01 PubMed ID: 9118111DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb05660.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
This study investigates the pH levels in various regions of the stomach in horses and foals, revealing differences between regions and between adult horses and young foals. The study shows an observable directional gradient in the pH levels of adult horses’ stomach surfaces and indicates that gastric acid secretion is functioning properly in young foals.
Methods Used in the Study
The research involved a total of 45 horses including 18 foals (average age of 20 days) and 27 adult horses (average age of 2.9 years). A pH electrode was inserted through an endoscope biopsy channel to measure the pH on the surface of the gastric mucosa and the gastric content. A reference electrode was attached to a shaved area on the neck of each subject. The regions where pH was measured included:
- The dorsal squamous fundus (SF)
- Squamous mucosa near the margo plicatus (MP)
- Glandular fundus (GF)
- Fluid or feed contents of the stomach
The measurements in these regions were recorded twice for each animal.
Findings in Adult Horses
Among the adult horses, the highest pH was found in the SF region (average pH 5.46) with a lower pH noted towards the ventral regions, i.e., towards the MP (average pH 4.12) and finally to the glandular fundic mucosa (average pH 3.09). The fluid contents of the stomach showed the lowest pH of 2.72. The variance in pH at each site within the stomach was statistically significant.
Findings in Foals
In foals, mean pH measurements displayed a different trend. The SF showed an average pH level of 4.88, while the MP region showed an average of 4.92. Proceeding towards the GF region, the average pH dropped to 2.10. For milk and fluid contents, the pH was found to be 1.85 in six foals, whereas the feed contents revealed an average pH of 3.39 in 12 foals. The pH of the SF and MP were statistically significantly higher than that of the feed contents which, in turn, was significantly higher than the glandular mucosal surface and fluid content pH values.
Conclusions of the Study
The results gathered from this study highlight a dorsal to ventral pH gradient on the gastric mucosal surface in adult horses. In other words, the researchers found a significant pattern of pH decrease from the upper (dorsal) to the lower (ventral) regions in the horses’ stomachs. Furthermore, the study concluded that gastric acid secretion is functioning as expected in young foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Murray MJ, Grodinsky C.
(1989).
Regional gastric pH measurement in horses and foals.
Equine Vet J Suppl(7), 73-76.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb05660.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Leesburg 22075, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Electrodes / veterinary
- Gastric Mucosa / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Reproducibility of Results
- Stomach / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Song Y, Day CM, Afinjuomo F, Tan JE, Page SW, Garg S. Advanced Strategies of Drug Delivery via Oral, Topical, and Parenteral Administration Routes: Where Do Equine Medications Stand?. Pharmaceutics 2023 Jan 4;15(1).
- Woodward MC, Huff NK, Garza F Jr, Keowen ML, Kearney MT, Andrews FM. Effect of pectin, lecithin, and antacid feed supplements (Egusin®) on gastric ulcer scores, gastric fluid pH and blood gas values in horses. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S4.
- Orsini JA, Spencer PA. Effects of a histamine type 2 receptor antagonist, BMY-26539-01, on equine gastric acid secretion. Can J Vet Res 2001 Jan;65(1):55-9.
- Murray MJ. Equine model of inducing ulceration in alimentary squamous epithelial mucosa. Dig Dis Sci 1994 Dec;39(12):2530-5.
- Cao J, Zhang J, Wu H, Lin Y, Fang X, Yun S, Du M, Su S, Liu Y, Wang N, Bao T, Bai D, Zhao Y. Probiotic Potential of Pediococcus pentosaceus M6 Isolated from Equines and Its Alleviating Effect on DSS-Induced Colitis in Mice. Microorganisms 2025 Apr 22;13(5).
- Hodgson E, Thirouin M, Narayanan P, Romano TR, Wise J, Bond S. A novel placement method of a calibration-free pH capsule for continuous wireless measurement of intragastric pH in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):e17273.
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