Summary
Six thoroughbred horses exercised on a motorised treadmill on two separate occasions at a speed of 11 or 12 m· s−1 for up to 2 min. 4 h prior to exercise each horse was given a 21 test solution of sodium bicarbonate (NaHC03; 0.6 g·kg−1 body mass) or a control solution of water by nasogastric intubation, the order of administration of the two solutions was randomised. Blood samples (n=15) were obtained before and during the 4 h after intubation, during exercise and for 30 min after exercise. (NaHC03; ingestion resulted in changes in pre-exercise acid-base status. The changes in blood lactate and base excess with exercise were greater after (NaHC03; administration; after 1 min of exercise in the case of lactate (P<0.05) and immediately after exercise in the case of base excess (P<0.05). Plasma ammonia levels were lower during (P<0.05) and immediately after (P<0.05) exercise following (NaHC03; ingestion. The peak change in plasma ammonia with exercise was also lower after (NaHC03; ingestion (P<0.05). Following exercise after (NaHC03; ingestion, five horses demonstrated lower muscle adenosine 5-triphosphate loss (P<0.05) and inosine 5-monophosphate formation (P=0.05) and higher glycerol 3-phosphate formation (P<0.05). There is evidence to suggest that metabolic alkalosis may delay the onset of fatigue by decreasing the extent of adenine nucleotide loss during high-intensity exercise.
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Greenhaff, P.L., Harris, R.C., Snow, D.H. et al. The influence of metabolic alkalosis upon exercise metabolism in the thoroughbred horse. Eur J Appl Physiol 63, 129–134 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235182
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00235182