Ventilatory responses of the horse to exercise: effect of gas collection systems.
Abstract: Experiments were undertaken to determine whether respiratory masks worn by horses exercising strenuously on a treadmill may interfere with normal gas exchange. Four collection systems, two flow-through systems and two incorporating one-way valve systems with subject-generated airflow were studied. Six horses performed standard treadmill exercise tests consisting of a 2-min warm up followed by galloping 1 min each at 8,9, and 10 m/s. Each horse exercised six times while wearing each of the four respiratory masks. Each flow-through system was used twice with flow rates of 2,360 and 3,840 l/min for one system, and 3,840 and 6,300 l/min for the other. Arterial blood gas tensions were measured during exercise at each speed for each system and were compared with values measured when the horses performed the same test without wearing a mask. Hypercapnia developed during exercise with each of the respiratory masks except with the 6,300-l/min flow-through system. All horses became hypoxemic during every exercise test, but it was most severe when systems incorporating one-way valves were used. This, plus the degree of hypercapnia observed and a suboptimal heart rate-O2 uptake relationship, indicated that such systems severely impede ventilation and suggest that experiments performed while utilizing them do not represent the normal exercise condition.
Publication Date: 1987-09-01 PubMed ID: 3115951DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1987.63.3.1210Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates if respiratory masks interfere with normal gas exchange in horses during exercise. Different types of respiratory masks were tested to see their effect on the horses’ blood gas levels and heart rate-O2 uptake relationship.
Objective of the Research
- The objective of the research was to examine whether the use of respiratory masks on horses during strenuous exercise could impact their normal gas exchange process.
Research Design and Methodology
- Four distinct types of collection systems were examined. Two were flow-through systems and the other two incorporated one-way valve systems with subject-generated airflow.
- Six horses were subjected to a sequence of standard treadmill exercise tests, consisting of a 2-minute warm up, followed by galloping for one minute each at speeds of 8, 9, and 10 meters per second.
- The horses were tested six times with each of the four respiratory masks, cycling through different flow rates for the flow-through systems.
- During the exercise at each speed, arterial blood gas tensions were measured for each system and compared to the values that were measured when horses exercised without a mask.
Findings
- Results indicated that Hypercapnia, an excessive amount of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, developed during exercise with all of the respiratory masks except the one with the highest flow-through system (6,300 liters per minute).
- All horses became hypoxemic (low oxygen levels in the blood) during every exercise test, however, this condition was most severe when using systems incorporating one-way valves.
- The researchers found an abnormal heart rate-O2 intake relationship when using these respiratory masks, implying that these systems might severely inhibit ventilation.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that certain respiratory masks can interfere with normal gas exchange in horses during intense exercise.
- The findings suggest that experiments conducted using respiratory systems incorporating one-way valves do not reflect the normal exercise conditions, as they significantly impede ventilation and cause abnormal blood gas levels and heart rate-O2 uptake relationships.
Cite This Article
APA
Bayly WM, Schultz DA, Hodgson DR, Gollnick PD.
(1987).
Ventilatory responses of the horse to exercise: effect of gas collection systems.
J Appl Physiol (1985), 63(3), 1210-1217.
https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1987.63.3.1210 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6610.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carbon Dioxide / analysis
- Heart Rate
- Horses / physiology
- Lung Volume Measurements
- Male
- Motor Activity
- Orchiectomy
- Oxygen / analysis
- Oxygen / blood
- Oxygen Consumption
- Physical Exertion
- Respiration
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Gauvreau GM, Young SS, Staempfli H, McCutcheon LJ, Wilson BA, McDonell WN. The relationship between respiratory exchange ratio, plasma lactate and muscle lactate concentrations in exercising horses using a valved gas collection system. Can J Vet Res 1996 Jul;60(3):161-71.
- Gallivan GJ, Bignell W, McDonell WN, Whiting TL. Simple nonrebreathing valves for use with large mammals. Can J Vet Res 1989 Apr;53(2):143-6.
- Hodgson DR, Rose RJ, Kelso TB, McCutcheon LJ, Bayly WM, Gollnick PD. Respiratory and metabolic responses in the horse during moderate and heavy exercise. Pflugers Arch 1990 Sep;417(1):73-8.
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