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Home / Equine Research Bank / Pharmaceuticals (Basel) / The Influence of Exercise Intensity on Tryptophan Metabolite...
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)2023; 16(1); 107; doi: 10.3390/ph16010107

The Influence of Exercise Intensity on Tryptophan Metabolites in Thoroughbred Horses.

Abstract: Catabolism of tryptophan (Trp) is modulated by physical activity and provides a pool of active compounds: Trp is considered a calmative agent, kynurenine (Kyn) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HKyn) show neurotoxic effects, kynurenic acid (Kyna) and xanthurenic acid (XA) have neuroprotective properties like nicotinamide (NAm), while serotonin is the neurotransmitter. The study was conducted to investigate the dependence of exercise intensity, measured by plasma lactic acid (LA) concentration, on the level of Trp, its catabolites (serotonin, Kyn, 3-HKyn, Kyna and XA), and NAm in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 18 young race Thoroughbred horses were investigated during exercise tests. Blood samples for analysis were collected: at rest, 10 min after the end of the exercise, and 60 min after the end of the exercise. Plasma LA was determined by the enzymatic method, Trp, and other metabolites using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. In horses performing intense exercise, the concentration of LA, Kyn, XA and NAm was increased, while Trp was decreased. Significant correlations were detected for exercise-induced increase in LA and 3-HKyn, XA, and NAm. Considering the scope of changes in analyzed data, there is an expected neutral effect on the health status of exercised horses.
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Publication Date: 2023-01-11 PubMed ID: 36678604PubMed Central: PMC9864980DOI: 10.3390/ph16010107Google 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 how the intensity of exercise impacts levels of tryptophan and its by-products in Thoroughbred horses. The findings indicate that intense exercise triggers significant changes in tryptophan metabolites.

Objective of the Study

  • The study aimed to investigate how the intensity of exercise, as measured by plasma lactic acid (LA) concentration, influences the level of tryptophan (Trp), its metabolites, and nicotinamide (NAm) in Thoroughbred horses.
  • The metabolites studied include serotonin, kynurenine (Kyn), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HKyn), kynurenic acid (Kyna), and xanthurenic acid (XA).

Methodology

  • The researchers recruited 18 young Thoroughbred racehorses for the study.
  • They conducted exercise tests and collected blood samples at three different times: at rest, 10 minutes after the end of the exercise, and 60 minutes after the exercise ended.
  • The concentration of plasma LA was measured using an enzymatic method, whereas Trp and its other metabolites were analyzed using liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry.

Findings

  • Results demonstrated that horses that performed intense exercise showed a higher concentration of LA, Kyn, XA, and NAm, while the level of Trp was found to be reduced.
  • Significant correlations were found between the exercise-induced increase in LA and the elevated amounts of 3-HKyn, XA, and NAm.

Conclusion and Implication

  • While the study noted changes in the levels of Trp and its metabolites following intense exercise, these alterations are expected to have a neutral impact on the horses’ health status.
  • Understanding the impact of exercise intensity on tryptophan metabolites could be important for maintaining the health and performance of athletic horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Staniszewska M, Kowalik S, Sadok I, Kędzierski W. (2023). The Influence of Exercise Intensity on Tryptophan Metabolites in Thoroughbred Horses. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), 16(1), 107. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16010107

Publication

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 1424-8247
NlmUniqueID: 101238453
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
PII: 107

Researcher Affiliations

Staniszewska, Magdalena
  • Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland.
Kowalik, Sylwester
  • Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
Sadok, Ilona
  • Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, Poland.
Kędzierski, Witold
  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Tero-Vescan A, Ștefănescu R, Pușcaș A, Buț M, Ősz BE, Slevin M. Kynurenine Pathway Metabolites as Mediators of Exercise-Induced Mood Enhancement, Fatigue Resistance, and Neuroprotection. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Dec 22;27(1).
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  2. Reemtsma FP, Giers J, Horstmann S, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H. Concentration Changes in Plasma Amino Acids and Their Metabolites in Eventing Horses During Cross-Country Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 22;15(13).
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