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European journal of applied physiology2003; 90(3-4); 396-404; doi: 10.1007/s00421-003-0925-0

The regulation of respiratory resistance in exercising horses.

Abstract: Horses display remarkable aerobic capabilities, attaining during muscular exercise a maximal rate of oxygen consumption about 30-fold higher than the resting value, and 2.5-fold higher than that of other mammals of similar body mass. Under these circumstances an enormous mechanical burden is expected to impinge on the equine respiratory pump and regulatory mechanisms aiming to minimize this load may play an important role in determining the adequacy of the respiratory system to the metabolic requirements. The behaviour of the respiratory system has been investigated in horses at rest and during treadmill locomotion at different velocities and gaits. During exercise hyperpnoea, horses exhibit a significant reduction in the lung viscous resistance not observed in other mammals, such as dogs and humans. Therefore, the exercise-dependent increase in the rate of mechanical work of breathing is lower in the horse than in other mammals. This increase in the equine airway patency during exercise appeared to be mainly determined by the pattern of laryngeal movements. In fact, during exercise, the laryngeal cross-sectional area, determined with a video-endoscopic imaging technique at the level of rima glottidis (CSArg), undergoes during inspiration an increase averaging up to over 4 times the resting expiratory values. Although a significant linear correlation was found between CSArg and minute ventilation (VE), the laryngeal activation contributes to increase lung conductance only when CSArg is narrower than the tracheal section. It appears therefore that in exercising horses pulmonary resistive features are finely controlled to reduce the mechanical load supported by the respiratory muscles and to counterbalance the increase in the ventilatory energetic requirements inherent in the remarkably enhanced aerobic performance observed in this species.
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Publication Date: 2003-08-14 PubMed ID: 12920523DOI: 10.1007/s00421-003-0925-0Google 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.

The research investigates the remarkable aerobic capabilities of horses during exercise, specifically focusing on how the equine respiratory system behaves while at rest and during different speeds and types of movement. It explores a unique reduction in lung viscous resistance observed in horses that appears to be controlled by the pattern of movements in the larynx.

Study on Equine Respiratory Efficiency

  • The study was triggered by the observation that horses can reach a consumption of oxygen about 30 times higher than when at rest. This rate is roughly 2.5 times higher than other mammals of similar size while exercising.
  • Investigation into the respiratory behaviour of horses at rest and during varied speeds and types, on a treadmill for controlled conditions, was conducted to understand how the respiratory system of a horse matches the high metabolic demands during exercise.

Unique Lung Resistance Reduction in Horses

  • An outcome of the research was that during strenuous physical activity, horses displayed a significant lowering of lung viscous resistance. This phenomenon is seemingly not present in other mammals including dogs and humans.
  • This abnormality results in the horse having a lower increase in the rate of mechanical work of breathing during activity than other mammals. In other words, horses manage their energy use more efficiently for breathing while exercising than other animals.

Role of Larynx in Respiratory Control

  • Further findings indicate that the increase in airway patency (the condition of being open and unblocked) in horses during physical action was primarily influenced by the pattern of laryngeal movements.
  • The cross-sectional area of the larynx, observed through video-endoscopic imaging at the level of rima glottidis (an area in the larynx), would on average increase up to more than 4 times the resting expiratory values during inspiration.
  • Though a significant linear correlation was found between the laryngeal cross-sectional area and the amount of air inhaled and exhaled per minute (VE), this laryngeal activation was found to increase lung conductance only when the laryngeal cross-sectional area is narrower than the tracheal section.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that in exercising horses, pulmonary resistive features are finely tuned to lessen the mechanical load put on the respiratory muscles and to balance the increase in the ventilatory energetic needs inherent in the remarkably enhanced aerobic performance observed in this species.

Cite This Article

APA
Lafortuna CL, Saibene F, Albertini M, Clement MG. (2003). The regulation of respiratory resistance in exercising horses. Eur J Appl Physiol, 90(3-4), 396-404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0925-0

Publication

European journal of applied physiology
ISSN: 1439-6319
NlmUniqueID: 100954790
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 90
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 396-404

Researcher Affiliations

Lafortuna, Claudio L
  • Istituto di Bioimmagini e Fisiologia Molecolare del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, via Cervi 93 Segrate, 20090 Milan, Italy. claudio.lafortuna@ibfm.cnr.it
Saibene, Franco
    Albertini, Mariangela
      Clement, M Giovanna

        MeSH Terms

        • Airway Resistance / physiology
        • Animals
        • Body Weight / physiology
        • Exercise Test
        • Horses / physiology
        • Inhalation / physiology
        • Laryngoscopy
        • Larynx / anatomy & histology
        • Larynx / physiology
        • Oxygen Consumption / physiology
        • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
        • Pressure
        • Pulmonary Ventilation / physiology
        • Respiratory Mechanics / physiology
        • Work of Breathing / physiology

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        Citations

        This article has been cited 3 times.
        1. Moreno-Martinez F, Byrne D, Raisis A, Waldmann AD, Hosgood G, Mosing M. Comparison of Effects of an Endotracheal Tube or Facemask on Breathing Pattern and Distribution of Ventilation in Anesthetized Horses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:895268.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.895268pubmed: 35836499google scholar: lookup
        2. Bourke JM, Fontenot N, Holliday C. Septal deviation in the nose of the longest faced crocodylian: A description of nasal anatomy and airflow in the Indian gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) with comments on acoustics. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2022 Oct;305(10):2883-2903.
          doi: 10.1002/ar.24831pubmed: 34813139google scholar: lookup
        3. Cercone M, Hokanson CM, Olsen E, Ducharme NG, Mitchell LM, Piercy RJ, Cheetham J. Asymmetric recurrent laryngeal nerve conduction velocities and dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle electromyographic characteristics in clinically normal horses. Sci Rep 2019 Feb 25;9(1):2713.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39189-zpubmed: 30804428google scholar: lookup
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