title: Effect of diet on plasma tryptophan and serotonin in trained mares and geldings.
abstract: Concentrations of tryptophan (TRP) and serotonin (5-HT) in plasma were measured in 36 moderately trained Dutch warmblood horses after eight weeks on a high fibre (n=18) or high starch (n=18) diet. Samples were taken three hours after feeding, when the horse was at rest, either at 11.00 or 14.00 hours. Plasma 5-HT and pH were significantly higher in horses fed a high fibre diet than those fed a high starch diet (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively), and significantly higher levels of TRP were found in mares than geldings (P<0.05). Plasma 5-HT may therefore be a good marker of serotonergic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Sciences and Applied Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alberghina
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannetto
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Visser
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ellis
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013213:Starch; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D013213:Starch