Does routine exercise induce stress and in consequence serum amyloid A (SAA) response in purebred Arabian racehorses?

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate whether a stress response to exercise increases the serum amyloid-A (SAA) production in purebred Arabian race horses. Eleven healthy Arabian horses aged 3 to 5 years were examined. All the horses were subjected to the same effort test consisting in 1200 m gallop at a speed typical for the daily training programme. Four venous blood samples were collected, namely: at rest (T0), immediately after the end of the exercise (T1), after 30 minutes of rest (T2), and after 24 hours from the first sampling (T3). Serum levels of ACTH, cortisol, and SAA were estimated by the ELISA method. To evaluate a relative intensity of exercise, the plasma lactate (LA) concentration and serum lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity were determined. The results obtained revealed that the type of exercise used caused a statistically significant short-term increase in the LA and LDH values. Similarly, the exercise induced a HPA axis response by a significant increase in ACTH and cortisol at T1 (P ≤ 0.01). Then, the LA and hormones concentrations decreased significantly over one of the post-training sampling periods (T2) (P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01, respectively). No statistically significant differences were observed in the SAA serum level during the respective steps of the experiment (T0-T3). In conclusion, the exercise-induced stress clearly affected the HPA axis response in horses by transient raising the ACTH and cortisol concentration. In contrast, the routine training session did not promote significant changes in the SAA level in studied horses.

Blood‐based assessment of oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine and metabolic adaptations in eventing horses accounting for plasma volume shift after exercise

“…There are various studies on SAA in horses pre‐ and post‐exercises (Arfuso et al., 2020; Carvalho Filho et al., 2019; Cywinska et al., 2010; Cywinska et al., 2012; Cywinska et al., 2013; Giori et al., 2011; Kowalik & Tomaszewska, 2018; Kristensen et al., 2014; Long & Nolen‐Walston, 2020; Miglio et al., 2020; Piccione et al., 2016; Rajendren et al., 2019; Siqueira et al., 2016; Turlo et al., 2016; Turlo et al., 2015; Valle et al., 2015; Witkowska‐Pilaszewicz et al., 2019; Witkowska‐Pilaszewicz et al., 2019). In our study, SAA levels did not change post‐exercise.…”

“…Ensuring energy supply during exercise involves endocrine responses. Cortisol modulates physical and mental performance demands on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis (Fazio et al., 2015; Ferlazzo et al., 2018, 2020; González et al., 1998; Kowalik & Tomaszewska, 2018; Liburt et al., 2013). Ferlazzo et al.…”

“…Although inflammatory responses are a natural part of adaptive mechanisms (Kellmann et al., 2018), overtraining can lead to excessive inflammatory responses that negatively impact the athlete (Witkowska‐Pilaszewicz, Bąska, 2019; Witkowska‐Pilaszewicz, Żmigrodzka2019). Serum amyloid A (SAA), a highly sensitive but non‐specific marker of inflammation, has been extensively studied in horses for detection of different subclinical pathologies, as well as for monitoring the response of treatment (Kowalik & Tomaszewska, 2018; Long & Nolen‐Walston, 2020; Turlo et al., 2016; Valle et al., 2015; Witkowska‐Pilaszewicz, et al., 2019). Valle et al.…”

“…Although inflammatory responses are a natural part of adaptive mechanisms (Kellmann et al, 2018), overtraining can lead to excessive inflammatory responses that negatively impact the athlete (Witkowska-Pilaszewicz, Bąska, 2019; Witkowska-Pilaszewicz, Żmigrodzka2019). Serum amyloid A (SAA), a highly sensitive but non-specific marker of inflammation, has been extensively studied in horses for detection of different subclinical pathologies, as well as for monitoring the response of treatment (Kowalik & Tomaszewska, 2018;Long & Nolen-Walston, 2020;Turlo et al, 2016;Valle et al, 2015;. Valle et al (2015) did not observe an increase in SAA but did observe an increase in leukocyte levels after a national Italian eventing competition in eight warmblood horses, although SAA appears to be more sensitive to inflammation than white blood cell (WBC) counts (Long & Nolen-Walston, 2020).…”

“…Ensuring energy supply during exercise involves endocrine responses. Cortisol modulates physical and mental performance demands on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis (Fazio et al, 2015;Ferlazzo et al, 2018Ferlazzo et al, , 2020González et al, 1998;Kowalik & Tomaszewska, 2018;Liburt et al, 2013). Ferlazzo et al (2018) resumed that in different equine disciplines, the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis and a connection to the HPA axis in response to physical exercise are suspected but not yet understood.…”