title: Preliminary investigation of alterations in blood viscosity, cellular composition, and electrophoresis plasma protein fraction profile after competitive racing activity in Thoroughbred horses.
abstract: In this preliminary investigation, various hematologic variables potentially influential in determining the degree of blood viscosity were evaluated in 10 Thoroughbred horses subjected to competitive acute running exercise. Following completion of sprints over a distance of 1.25 miles, mean percent (+/- SD) increases in PCV (38.3 +/- 12.9%), RBC (47.8 +/- 15.3%), and rouleaux index (232.7 +/- 176.8%) were recognized. Simultaneous increases in total plasma protein (28.3 +/- 5.31%), serum albumin (26.7 +/- 6.80%), alpha 1-globulin (60.0 +/- 49.0%), alpha 2-globulin (25.5 +/- 27.9%), beta 1-globulin (46.7 +/- 21.1%), beta 2-globulin (35.0 +/- 50.6%), gamma 1- and 2-globulins (38.7 +/- 29.6%), and plasma fibrinogen (12.5 +/- 10.4%) concentrations increased simultaneously. Horses also had consistent decreases in albumin:globulin ratio (-10.0 +/- 7.43%). Alterations in these hematologic values after acute running exercise in Thoroughbred horses accompanied increases in serum (69.3 +/- 39.7%), plasma (39.7 +/- 11.9%), and blood (134.7 +/- 55.3%) viscosity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Coyne
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Spensley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis / Q000662:veterinary; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood*; D012420:Running