Maximum O2 uptake, O2 debt and deficit, and muscle metabolites in Thoroughbred horses

This study determined maximal O2 uptake (VO2max), maximal O2 deficit, and O2 debt in the Thoroughbred racehorse exercising on an inclined treadmill. In eight horses the O2 uptake (VO2) vs. speed relationship was linear until 10 m/s and VO2max values ranged from 131 to 153 ml.kg-1.min-1. Six of these horses then exercised at 120% of their VO2max until exhaustion. VO2, CO2 production (VCO2), and plasma lactate (La) were measured before and during exercise and through 60 min of recovery. Muscle biopsies were collected before and at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, and 60 min after exercise. Muscle concentrations of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), phosphocreatine (PC), La, glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P), and creatine were determined, and pH was measured. The O2 deficit was 128 +/- 32 (SD) ml/kg (64 +/- 13 liters). The O2 debt was 324 +/- 62 ml/kg (159 +/- 37 liters), approximately two to three times comparative values for human beings. Muscle [ATP] was unchanged, but [PC] was lower (P less than 0.01) than preexercise values at less than or equal to 10 min of recovery. [PC] and VO2 were negatively correlated during both the fast and slow phases of VO2 during recovery. Muscle [La] and [G-6-P] were elevated for 10 min postexercise. Mean muscle pH decreased from 7.05 (preexercise) to 6.75 at 1.5 min recovery, and the mean peak plasma La value was 34.5 mmol/l.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)