Metabolic responses to exercise in the racehorse: changes in plasma alanine concentration

Previous studies in humans have shown that alanine is released from the skeletal muscle in proportion to the work load. We have measured plasma alanine and urea concentrations in well-trained Standardbred and Finnish-bred (cold-blooded) trotters after a graded-intensity exercise and during recovery to study metabolic responses to exercise in this animal model. As controls we measured blood lactate, pyruvate, and glucose concentrations as well as hematocrit values. Metabolic responses to exercise were closely reflected in all these parameters. Plasma alanine increased relatively more than plasma lactate at moderate-intensity exercise near anaerobic threshold. The linear correlation between the intensity of exercise and plasma alanine was similar to that observed earlier in humans. Interestingly, plasma alanine concentrations remained elevated long after the submaximal exercise, whereas the concentration of lactate, pyruvate, and glucose decreased more rapidly. No significant changes were found in plasma urea concentration under these conditions. The most significant differences in the metabolic responses to exercise of the two breeds studied were the higher lactate-to-pyruvate ratios achieved during the high-intensity exercise and the more sensitive increases of plasma alanine even during low-intensity exercise in the Finnish-bred horses. These differences probably reflect different compositions of muscle fiber types in the two breeds. The findings together indicate that plasma alanine is greatly increased in the racehorse during and after a high-intensity exercise and thus is an important vehicle in transporting ammonia and carbon skeletons of products of anaerobic glycolysis out of the muscle tissue.