Blood Lactate and venous pH as indicators of anaerobic energy production in horses

TRIGO P; CASTEJON-RIBER C; ACERBI F; MUÑOZ JUZADO A; REZENDE ASC; BARRENA CHIANTELASSA JP; PERAL GARCIA P

BH

Congreso; 52ª Reunião da Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia; 2015

Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia

The production of anaerobic energy depends on the amount of type II fibers and their glycolitic and buffering capacity. Despite its importance on athletic performance, assessment of anaerobic capacity in sporting horses is still a challenge. The aim of this work is the evaluation of plasma lactate (Lac) and blood pH as indicators of anaerobic energy production in the horse, compared with the currently most accurate technique for its determination. 8 cross breed horses performed a progressive treadmill exercise test until fatigue. After warming up, animals underwent an exercise protocol starting at 5m/sec, increasing 1m/sec every 2 min. Oxygen Debt (OD) was measured by a horse mask spirogasometer (Cortex Byophysiks) and venous blood samples were obtained at rest, immediately after exercise (AE) and after 10 min of active recovery (REC), for Lac (spectrophotometry) and blood pH determination (ion-selective electrode). Results were analyzed using multiple Student´s t test, and the linearity between the variables was determined by Pearson coefficient. Lac increased AE (15.1+/-3.8mmol/l) and REC (16.9+/-2.2mmol/l) and both had poor correlation with OD (AE 0.31 and REC 0.37). Venous blood pH decreased AE (7.19+/-0.07) and increased REC (7.49+/-0.8), and had low correlation with OD (0.3AE and -0.17REC). The correlation between Lac and blood pH was 0.36AE and 0.46REC. Although there were positive correlations, this study failed to demonstrate accuracy of Lac or blood pH in the estimation of the anaerobic energy production in horses. Future studies should focus on the availability of non lactic anaerobic sources, Lac catabolism, or buffer capacity, in order to find a marker of anaerobic energy production.