Acute-phase protein profile in horses subjected to different exercise protocols
Pedrita Assunção1, Tatiana Barbosa1, Letícia Yonezawa1
1São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Rua Prof. Doutor Walter Mauricio Correa, s/n bairro UNESP, Botucatu Campus, SP Botucatu, São Paulo 18618.618-681, Brazil.
Summary
This study tracked serum protein changes in horses after exercise, finding that haptoglobin decreased and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein increased, indicating physiological responses to exercise and potential tissue protection.
Area of Science:
- Equine physiology
- Exercise science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- High-intensity exercise can cause muscle injury and acute-phase response (APR) in horses.
- Understanding serum protein profiles is crucial for assessing exercise-induced physiological changes and potential injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum protein synthesis and profiles in horses before and after two distinct exercise protocols.
- To correlate these protein profiles with exercise-induced muscular injury.
Main Methods:
- Ten horses (Arabian and Criollo) underwent short-duration anaerobic (TRA) and long-duration aerobic (TLD) treadmill exercise.
- Blood samples were collected pre-exercise and at six time points post-exercise (T0-T6).
- Analyzed hematocrit, fibrinogen, total serum proteins (TP), SDS-PAGE, creatine kinase (CK), haptoglobin (Hp), and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP).
Main Results:
- Haptoglobin (Hp) concentrations significantly decreased after the TRA protocol.
- Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) concentrations significantly increased after both TRA and TLD protocols.
- Albumin levels increased following the TLD exercise protocol.
Conclusions:
- Changes in hematocrit, Hp, and albumin reflect physiological responses to hemoconcentration and hemolysis during exercise.
- Increased AGP suggests catecholamine release to mitigate oxidative tissue damage, particularly after aerobic exercise (TLD).
