Cardiac Biomarker Responses to Acute Exercise in Show Jumping Horses

Abstract

Cardiac biomarkers are useful to identify cardiac muscle variations in human and equine medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effect of a bout of show jumping training on serum activity of cardiac and muscular biomarkers in healthy athletic horses to include cardiac troponin (cTnI), myoglobin (MB), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Serum samples were collected from seven Italian Saddle horses (three geldings and four mares; 10 ± 3 years; mean body weight 480 ±70 kg), regularly trained for show jumping at rest, immediately after exercise (show jumping simulate trial) and during the recovery period (30 and 60 min after exercise). ANOVA was applied to all parameters, and Pearson correlation coefficient t (r) evaluated. Immediately after exercise there was an increase in cTnI (P < .01), MB (P < .01), and CPK (P < .005); a positive correlation between cTnI and AST and between AST and LDH; and a negative correlation between cTnI and ALT and between ALT and CPK. Thirty minutes after exercise, there was a positive correlation between AST and ALT and between AST and LDH, while 60 mintues after exercise, there was a positive correlation between MB and LDH and a negative correlation between AST and CPK. The results obtained demonstrate the cardiac and muscular response to short-term intense exercise show jumping exercise.

Keywords: Athletic horse; Cardiac biomarkers; Physical exercise; Show jumping; cTnI.