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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Profiling in Horses Bef...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2025; 39(2); e70036; doi: 10.1111/jvim.70036

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Profiling in Horses Before and After Exercise.

Abstract: The impact of exercise on the classical and alternative renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) pathways has not been studied in horses. Objective: We hypothesized that exercise would activate both RAAS pathways and that endurance exercise would cause more activation of the classical pathway compared to short-duration, high-intensity exercise in horses. Methods: Twenty-five horses (21 client-owned and 4 research) were included in 4 exercise groups (10 Arabians, 50-mile ride [A-E]; 4 thoroughbreds, 1-mile treadmill exercise [TB-TM]; 5 thoroughbreds, 1-1/16th-mile race [TB-R]; and 6 quarter horses 330-500-yard race [QH-R]). Methods: Blood was collected before and after exercise. Equilibrium analysis was performed to measure serum RAAS metabolites and enzyme activities. The components of the RAAS pathways were compared before and after exercise. Post/pre-exercise ratios for each variable were compared among exercise groups. Data were reported as median (first, third quartiles; pre vs. post) and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Exercise increased classical RAAS metabolites (pmol/L; angiotensin I, 2.5 [2.5, 2.5] vs. 8.2 [2.5, 19.0]; angiotensin II, 10.2 [6.0, 21.9] vs. 53.0 [37.4, 95.8]; aldosterone, 83.8 [53.4, 149.5] vs. 170.6 [112.2, 251.7]); alternative RAAS metabolites (pmol/L; angiotensin 1-7, 1.5 [1.5, 1.5] vs. 5.1 [1.5, 12.5]; angiotensin 1-5, 2.5 [2.5, 7.3] vs. 14.9 [9.0, 25.4]) and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 activity (ng/mL; 16.6 [13.9, 20.4] vs. 25.2 [20.2, 33.0]; p < 0.001) for all horses. Angiotensin 1-7 ratios were higher for TB-R compared with TB-TM and A-E (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Both classical and alternative RAAS pathways increase after exercise in horses.
© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-06 PubMed ID: 40048547PubMed Central: PMC11884522DOI: 10.1111/jvim.70036Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research investigates the effect of exercise on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) pathways in horses, hypothesizing that exercise would increase the activation of both classical and alternative RAAS pathways. The findings suggest that both these pathways increase after exercise in all horse types studied, with endurance exercises causing more activation of the classical RAAS pathway.

Research Methodology

  • Twenty-five horses, some client-owned and some research subjects, participated. They were grouped into four different exercise categories.
  • The categories included Arabians in a 50-mile ride, thoroughbreds in a 1-mile treadmill exercise, thoroughbreds in a 1-1/16th-mile race, and quarter horses in 330-500-yard races.
  • Blood samples were taken before and after the horses exercised. These samples were used to measure serum RAAS metabolites and enzyme activities and then compared to determine the changes in RAAS pathways due to the exertion.

Results

  • The results confirmed that exercise escalates both the classical and alternative RAAS pathways in horses.
  • This increase was evident in both RAAS metabolites and angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 activity across all the horses, regardless of the type of exercise they undertook.
  • However, the results showed that the ratios of angiotensin 1-7, an important component of the alternative RAAS pathway, were higher in thoroughbreds that raced compared to those engaged in treadmill exercise and the Arabians on a ride. This suggests that selective short-burst, high-intensity exercise like racing might lead to more activation of this alternative pathway.

Conclusion

  • Overall, the study confirmed its initial hypothesis that exercise activates both the classical and alternative RAAS pathways in horses. The results also hint towards the varying effects different types of exertion can have on these pathways.
  • This can have significant implications for horse health and training regimens. By understanding how different exercises impact physiological responses, trainers can optimize horse performance and overall wellbeing. Further research into these pathways could also potentially contribute to sport medicine and veterinary science.

Cite This Article

APA
Holbrook T, Hernandez J, McCarrel T, Lester G, Sleeper M, Domenig O, Adin D. (2025). Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Profiling in Horses Before and After Exercise. J Vet Intern Med, 39(2), e70036. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.70036

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 39
Issue: 2
Pages: e70036
PII: e70036

Researcher Affiliations

Holbrook, Todd
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Hernandez, Jorge
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
McCarrel, Taralyn
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Lester, Guy
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Sleeper, Margaret
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Domenig, Oliver
  • Attoquant Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria.
Adin, Darcy
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / physiology
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
  • Male
  • Female
  • Angiotensin I / blood
  • Aldosterone / blood
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / blood

Grant Funding

  • Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
  • AWD06761 / Racing Animal Medical Research
  • June Jacobs Endowed Chair in Equine Medicine, Oklahoma State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

Conflict of Interest Statement

Oliver Domenig is employed by Attoquant Diagnostics. Darcy Adin is a consultant for Ceva Santé Animale and Boehringer Ingelheim. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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