Abstract
Hucul and Arabian horses differ in the physiological constitution and exposition to environmental conditions. Oxidative stress plays a pathogenic role in many diseases and enables further injuries. The objective of this study was to compare the levels of enzymatic and nonenzymatic oxidative stress markers in Hucul horses living in seminatural conditions and in commercially handled Arabian horses. We tested the serum samples for total superoxide dismutase (total SOD), Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), and Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity; for lipofuscin (LPS), ceruloplasmin (CER) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration; and for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and total oxidant status (TOS). Total SOD (p < 0.001), MnSOD (p < 0.001), and CuZnSOD (p < 0.001) activities were significantly higher whereas LPS (p < 0.05), TAC (p < 0.001), TOS (p < 0.001), and MDA (p < 0.001) concentrations were significantly lower in the serum samples collected from Huculs vs. Arabian horses, regardless of the gender. Gender, regardless of the breed, had no significant impact on the antioxidants' activity and concentration. Total SOD and MnSOD activities were significantly higher in Hucul's mares when compared to Hucul's stallions. Concentrations of TAC and TOS were significantly lower in Arabian stallions than in Arabian mares. Commercially handled horses expressed a higher level of oxidative stress markers in comparison to breeds living in seminatural conditions. We conclude that antioxidants are important biomarkers of animal health, whether they are under maintenance care or performing physical exercise.
Highlights
Hucul and Arabian horses differ in the physiological constitution, conformation traits, exposition to environmental conditions, and nutritional requirements [1]
Total Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Mn-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) activities were significantly higher (p < 0:001, Figures 2(a)–2(c); Table 1) whereas the concentrations of nonenzymatic markers such as LPS, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and MDA were significantly lower (p < 0:05, p < 0:001, respectively, Figures 3(a)–3(d); Table 1) in the serum samples collected from Huculs when compared to serum samples collected from Arabian horses regardless of the gender
We report that commercially handled Arabian horses showed a higher level of oxidative stress, measured with antioxidant enzymatic activity (SOD), accumulation of oxidative stress products (LPS and MDA), and total oxidant status (TOS), than Hucul horses
Summary
Hucul and Arabian horses differ in the physiological constitution, conformation traits, exposition to environmental conditions, and nutritional requirements [1]. Huculs are one of the oldest primitive breeds of small mountain horse living in Eastern Europe. This pure horse breed is characterized by high physical endurance, high resistance to illnesses, low feed requirements, fertility, and longevity [2,3,4]. The Arabian horse breed is one of the oldest and the most influential pure horse breeds throughout the world [5]. Western Arabian populations selected in Poland and Europe originate from Middle Eastern Arabian populations’ individuals imported around 200 years ago [5, 6]
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