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The Journal of physiology1996; 492 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2); 587-596; doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021331

The effects of locomotor-respiratory coupling on the pattern of breathing in horses.

Abstract: 1. To investigate the effect of locomotor activity on the pattern of breathing in quadrupeds, ventilatory response was studied in four healthy horses during horizontal and inclined (7%) treadmill exercise at different velocities (1.4-6.9 m s(-1)) and during chemical stimulation with a rebreathing method. Stride frequency (f(s)) and locomotor-respiratory coupling (LRC) were also simultaneously determined by means of video recordings synchronized with respiratory events. 2. Tidal volume (V(T)) was positively correlated with pulmonary ventilation (V(E)) but significantly different linear regression equations were found between the experimental conditions (P < 0.0001), since the chemical hyperventilation was mainly due to increases in V(T), whereas the major contribution to exercise hyperpnoea came from changes in respiratory frequency (f(R)). 3. The average f(R) at each exercise level was not significantly different from f(S), although there was not always a tight 1:1 LRC. At constant speeds, f(S) was independent of the treadmill slope and hence the greater V(E) during inclined exercise was due to increased V(T). 4. At any ventilatory level, the differences in breathing patterns between locomotion and rebreathing or locomotion at different slopes derived from different set points of the inspiratory off-switch mechanism. 5. The percentage of single breaths entrained with locomotor rhythm rose progressively and significantly with treadmill speed (P < 0.0001) up to a 1:1 LRC and was significantly affected by treadmill slope (P < 0.001). 6. A LRC of 1:1 was systematically observed at canter (10 out of 10 trials) and sometimes at trot (5 out of 14) and it entailed (i) a 4- to 5-fold reduction in both V(T) and f(R) variability, and (ii) a gait-specific phase locking of inspiratory onset during the locomotor cycle. 7. It is concluded that different patterns of breathing are employed during locomotion and rebreathing due to the interference between locomotor and respiratory functions, which may play a role in the optimization and control of exercise ventilation in horses.
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Publication Date: 1996-04-15 PubMed ID: 9019552PubMed Central: PMC1158850DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021331Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 study explores how physical activity impacts the breathing pattern in quadrupeds, such as horses, and how this interaction may contribute to the control and optimization of ventilation during exercise.

Study Methodology

  • The researchers studied the ventilatory response in four healthy horses during different physical activities which included lying flat, inclined treadmill exercise at varying speeds, and a chemical stimulation method of rebreathing.
  • The frequency of strides and locomotor-respiratory coupling (a measure of the synchronization between movement and breathing) were also recorded through synchronized video recording with the horse’s respiratory events.

Findings

  • They found a positive correlation between tidal volume (the depth of the horse’s breath) and total pulmonary ventilation (the total amount of air being cycled through the lungs).
  • The primary factor in increased ventilation during activity was primarily due to an increase in breathing rate. While ramping up ventilation through chemical stimulation, however, resulted in deeper breaths from the animals.
  • The breathing rate was found to align closely with the stride frequency, even if they did not always match perfectly. Stride frequency at constant paced activity remained same regardless of the incline of the treadmill.
  • When comparing locomotion with the rebreathing method or locomotion at different slopes, the differences in breathing patterns were due to the different inspiratory off-switch mechanism (the mechanism responsible for ceasing inhalation), which were activated differently depending on the type of activity.
  • As the horse’s speed increases, there was a marked rise in the number of breaths that synchronized with the horse’s locomotive rhythm, reaching a perfect 1:1 ratio synchronicity at certain speeds. This 1:1 ratio synchronization was often observed at canter and sometimes at trot speed.
  • This synchronization resulted in a decrease in the variability of both the breathing rate and stride frequency, which might assist in running efficiency.

Conclusion

  • According to the study’s conclusion, the interference between locomotion and respiratory functions produces different patterns of breathing during activities such as locomotion and rebreathing. This may play a significant role in the optimization and control of exercise ventilation in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Lafortuna CL, Reinach E, Saibene F. (1996). The effects of locomotor-respiratory coupling on the pattern of breathing in horses. J Physiol, 492 ( Pt 2)(Pt 2), 587-596. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021331

Publication

The Journal of physiology
ISSN: 0022-3751
NlmUniqueID: 0266262
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 492 ( Pt 2)
Issue: Pt 2
Pages: 587-596

Researcher Affiliations

Lafortuna, C L
  • Istituto di Tecnologie Biomediche Avanzate del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy.
Reinach, E
    Saibene, F

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Gait
      • Horses / physiology
      • Hyperventilation / physiopathology
      • Lung / physiology
      • Motor Activity / physiology
      • Periodicity
      • Pulmonary Ventilation
      • Respiration / physiology
      • Respiratory Dead Space
      • Stimulation, Chemical
      • Tidal Volume

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 10 times.
      1. Fujita M, Kamibayashi K, Aoki T, Horiuchi M, Fukuoka Y. Influence of Step Frequency on the Dynamic Characteristics of Ventilation and Gas Exchange During Sinusoidal Walking in humans. Front Physiol 2022;13:820666.
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