Exercise training session-induced metabolic acidosis in barrel racing horses

Cláudio Luís Nina Gomes,Ricardo De Macedo Chaves,Andressa Mendes Alves,Bruna Maria Ribeiro,Felipe De Jesus Moraes Junior,Rosany Maria Cunha Aranha,Rodrigo Santos Fucuta,José Dantas Ribeiro Filho

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20180887

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In horses, acid-base balance disorders are common after intense exercise, with metabolic acidosis being the most common after high intensity and short duration exercise. Understanding the processes that cause them is fundamental for procedures, which aimed to improve the physical fitness of horses for athletic purposes, with fewer changes in homeostasis. The present study assessed the effect of barrel racing on acid base balance in Quarter Horse, at the following times: T0 - immediately before training; T1 - immediately after the end of the second course; T2 - one hour after the end of the second course. In T1, there was decrease (P<0.05) in the pH, HCO3 -, pCO2, cBase, tCO2 and strong ion difference concentrations, while the plasma lactate and anion gap increased (P<0.05). It was concluded that barrel racing training caused transient metabolic acidosis in the horses, and hyperlactatemia was still present after an hour of rest.

Highlights

Biochemical responses obtained in laboratory exams are an essential part of the assessment of a horses physical conditioning
Horses were housed in masonry stalls 4.5x5.0 meters (m), with floors covered by sawdust, feeder, and automatic water cooler, and were trained once a day from Monday to Friday, generally for two to two and a half hour, in the mornings, performing warm-up and barrel racing
Hematological and biochemical values evaluated before exercise (T0) were within normal limits, and the following mean values and standard deviations were reported: Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC): 7.285±0.75x106; Hemoglobin (Hg): 11.70±1.35 g dL-1; Glomerular Volume (VG %): 33.60±2.88; total plasma proteins 7.55±0.31 mg dL-1; Glucose 78.80±6.71 mg dL-1; Creatinine (Cre): 1.41±0.17 mg dL-1 ; Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): 34.70±7.45 mg dL-1; Sodium (Na): 136.40±2.86 mMol L-1; Chloride (Cl): 98.90±3.75 mMol L-1; Potassium (K): 3,78±0,21 mMol L-1; Total Calcium 2.99±0.26 mMol L-1; Creatine Kinase (CK): 110.00±20.95 UI L-1; Aspartate

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Biochemical responses obtained in laboratory exams are an essential part of the assessment of a horses physical conditioning They indicate systemic alterations and energy expenditure of the animal according to the type of exercise performed in training or competitions (FERRAZ et al, 2010). The term lactate is commonly used instead of lactic acid because it is in this form that this substance is present in the body (DOS SANTOS, 2019). It is important to verify whether this fact occurs in horses that perform high intensity and short duration exercise in different equestrian sports in which the tests are over short courses, including barrel racing, balize and vaquejada, in the different regions of Brazil. The evaluation of these animals under training and in the barrel racing tests is useful to verify: What is the ABB level in horses after two three-drum courses? Is one hour of rest sufficient for balance recomposition ? The present study aimed to answer these questions

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION