Changes in circulating gut hormones in the horse during long distance exercise

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Venous blood samples were collected before and immediately after an 80-km ride and a 42-km race. They were analyzed for blood glucose and lactate, and for plasma non-esterified fatty acids, insulin, pancreatic glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, gastrin, gastric inhibitory peptide, somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide concentrations. The 80-km ride was associated with marked hypoglycemia and a slight lactic acidemia together with an increase in plasma glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide values. The 42-km race produced hyperglycemia and marked lactic acidemia together with an increase in plasma glucagon, somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. The increase in these peptides is not related to alterations in blood glucose or the relative contributions of aerobic and anaerobic muscle metabolism. The changes in circulating gut peptides are part of the endocrine response to exercise and the possible physiological role of these changes is discussed.