Stimulation of Bladder Acupoints by Cloprostenol for Treating Back Soreness in Athletic Horses.

The study examined the effectiveness of cloprostenol-pharmacopuncture in treating back soreness in athletic horses. It found that such treatment significantly improved the horses’ physical attributes, blood parameters, enzyme levels, and overall performance.

Overview of the Research and Methodology

The research involved twenty-five Thoroughbred jumper geldings, which were encountering back soreness and displaying poor performance. As a control set, five horses were monitored as well. To evaluate the disease and treatment effects, different parameters such as physical symptoms, blood image, and serum enzymes were assessed. Before starting the treatment, horses already showed increases in aspartate aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase, indicating muscle damage.

Treatment and Observations

The diseased horses were subjected to cloprostenol-pharmacopuncture, a therapy type that combines acupuncture and pharmacology. After receiving the treatment:

• Significant increases in the horses’ heart rate, body temperature, respiration rate, and capillary refilling time were observed.
• On the second day of the therapy, the researchers noted a considerable decrease in the mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase. These levels continued to decrease over the following days, matching the control group’s levels by the fourth day and falling significantly below by the sixth day.
• The serum cortisol level of the horses also showed a significant increase on the sixth day of treatment, which could be an indicator of reduced stress levels.

Changes in Blood Parameters

The blood picture in treated horses demonstrated significant improvements across numerous parameters:

• Red blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, platelets, white blood cells, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, lymphocytes, plateletcrit, and large platelet concentration ratio all increased significantly.
• No significant changes were observed in hematocrit, granulocytes, and midocytes, underscoring the safety of the treatment.

Conclusion of the Study

The results of this study indicate that cloprostenol-pharmacopuncture effectively treated back soreness in the subject athletic horses. The improvements in blood parameters, enzyme levels, hormonal changes, and overall performance progress highlight this treatment’s potential for managing musculoskeletal discomfort in equine athletes.