Biochemical response to physical exercise in show-jumping horses

Abstract

The information on the biochemical response of horses submitted to physical exercise by jumping over obstacles is limited and controversial. The purpose of the present study was to monitor the change in activity of muscle enzymes creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), as well as the serum concentrations of triacylglycerols, cholesterol and creatinine in performance horses. Correlations between study parameters were also estimated. Six healthy Hanoverian geldings were submitted to physical exercise similar to a competition consisting of jumping over barriers over four consecutive days. The applied exercise induced increases of biochemical parameters CK, AST, ALT, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and creatinine within the reference ranges. The changes in these parameters reflected the changes in skeletal muscle and kidney functions as well as alterations in the type of used energy. Negative correlations were established between CK and ALT at 2 hours, and between triacylglycerols and total cholesterol during the entire period of the study. Also, a positive association was established between СK and AST at 24 hours and between total cholesterol and creatinine before exercise, and at 0 and 2 hours post-exercise. The data from the present study could be utilised as guidelines for prevention and early detection of metabolic disturbances in show jumping horses.