Relationships between body dimensions, body weight, age, gender, breed and echocardiographic dimensions in young endurance horses

BMC Veterinary Research

Research Article

D. S. Trachsel¹  E. Barrey²  D. D. Hauri³  A. Giraudet⁴  D. Maso⁴  G. Hervé⁴  C. Robert⁵ 

[1] CIRALE-Hippolia, Médecine Sportive, RD 674, F-14430, Goustranville, France;Université Paris-Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94704, Maisons-Alfort, France;INRA, GABI-UMR1313, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France;Office Fédéral de la Statistique, Espace de l’Europe 10, CH-2010, Neuchâtel, Switzerland;Université Paris-Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94704, Maisons-Alfort, France;Université Paris-Est, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 7 avenue du Général de Gaulle, F-94704, Maisons-Alfort, France;INRA, GABI-UMR1313, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France;

关键词: (3-10): equine;    Echocardiography;    Cardiovascular;    Non-invasive cardiac assessment;    Endurance;    Body weight;    Body dimensions;    Gender;    Age;    Breed;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12917-016-0846-x

 received in 2016-01-18, accepted in 2016-08-31,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe heart’s physiological adaptation to aerobic training leads to an increase in heart chamber size, and is referred to as the Athlete's heart. However, heart dimensions are also related to body weight (BWT), body size, growth and (in some species) breed. There are few published data on the relationships between heart dimensions and growth or aerobic training in Arabian and Arabian-related endurance horses. Therefore the objective of the present study was to describe the influence of body dimensions (body length (BL), thoracic circumference (TC), withers height (WH)), BWT, age, gender, breed (purebred Arabians, part-bred Arabians, Anglo-Arabians, and Others) and the initiation of endurance training on echocardiographic measurements in competition-fit endurance horses aged 4 to 6 years.ResultsMost left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) dimensions increased with age, whereas LA and LV functional indices did not. Although there was no gender difference for LV dimensions, females had larger LA dimensions. In terms of breed, Anglo-Arabians had the largest LV dimensions. Regression models indicated that the included explanatory factors had a weak influence on heart dimensions. Age, body dimensions, breed and gender showed the most consistent influence on LA dimensions, whereas BWT, breed and kilometres covered in competition showed the most consistent influence on LV dimensions.ConclusionThe increase in echocardiographic dimensions with age indicates on-going growth in our population of 4 to 6 year-old horses. We also observed small changes associated with the initiation of endurance training. Morphometric dimensions had a greater influence on LA dimensions, whereas LV dimensions were also influenced (albeit weakly) by parameters associated with exercise intensity. These results may therefore reflect early adaptations linked to the initiation of endurance training.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016