M-mode echocardiographs of endurance horses in the recovery phase of long-distance competition.
M-mode echocardiographic structures, and cardiac function indices, PCV, and total plasma protein values were determined for 34 endurance equine athletes before (base line) and after (after race) a 161-km endurance competition and were compared. The PCV (base-line mean, 37%; after-race mean, 46%) and total plasma protein value (base-line mean, 6.9 g/dl; after-race mean, 7.5 g/dl) increased. Compared with base-line echocardiography, after-race echocardiography indicated an increase in heart rate, as determined from the simultaneous ECG recorded on the echocardiograph (base-line mean, 41 beats/min; after-race mean, 54 beats/min), and an increase in interventricular septal diastolic thickness (base-line mean, 28 mm; after-race mean, 33 mm). The septal thickening fraction (base-line mean, 59%; after-race mean, 38%), the left atrioventricular valve E to F slope (base-line mean, 224 mm/s; after-race mean, 175 mm/s), the left ventricular diastolic dimension (base-line mean, 99 mm; after-race mean, 86 mm), the fractional shortening of the left ventricle (base-line mean, 41%; after-race mean, 37%), the aortic root dimension (base-line mean, 63 mm; after-race mean, 58 mm), the caudal aortic wall excursion (base-line mean, 19 mm; after-race mean, 11 mm) and the left atrial diastolic dimension (base-line mean, 46 mm; after-race mean, 39 mm), decreased significantly (P less than 0.05). In base-line echocardiographs, late diastolic left atrioventricular valve motion was evident in 9 horses. The aberrant left atrioventricular valve motion was not evident in after-race echocardiographs. Seemingly, central vascular volume decreased in these horses during the recovery phase of severe strenuous endurance competition.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
J J
JJ
Bertone
K S
KS
Paull
W E
WE
Wingfield
J A
JA
Boon
D000818:Animals; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D010807:Physical Endurance; D005082:Physical Exertion; D013045:Species Specificity