Peripheral serotoninergic response to physical exercise in athletic horses.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of exercise on plasma tryptophan (TRP) and free serotonin (f5-HT), whole blood-5-HT (WB-5-HT) and f5-HT/WB-5-HT ratio in Italian Saddle horses. Six clinically healthy Italian Saddle horses were subjected to a 450 meters obstacles course. Blood samples were collected from each horse by jugular venipuncture using vacutainer tubes with K(3)-EDTA at rest, immediately after exercise, and after 30 min. TRP, f5-HT and WB-5-HT were analyzed by HPLC. Immediately after exercise, statistically significant increases of f5-HT (p <0.001) and WB-5-HT (p <0.001) were observed. After 30 min, f5-HT and WB-5-HT decreased compared to immediately after exercise, but were still significantly higher than rest values (p <0.01 and p <0.05, respectively). A significant linear regression between f5-HT and WB-5-HT was observed during experimental conditions. f5-HT and WB-5-HT modifications after exercise suggest an important role of peripheral serotoninergic markers in response to physical activity. The possible source of extra serotonin detected after show jumping should be clarified by further investigation.
Department of Experimental Sciences and Applied Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy. dalberghina@unime.it
Daniela
D
Alberghina
Claudia
C
Giannetto
Giuseppe
G
Piccione
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan