The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses
In the present study, the changes in the markers of stress and inflammatory responses of 12 Standardbred horses were investigated before and after exercise during late spring and summer. The environmental temperature, relative humidity, and temperature–humidity index (THI) were assessed during this...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Francesca Arfuso Maria Rizzo Laura Perillo Federica Arrigo Elisabetta Giudice Giuseppe Piccione Caterina Faggio Vincenzo Monteverde |
| author_facet | Francesca Arfuso Maria Rizzo Laura Perillo Federica Arrigo Elisabetta Giudice Giuseppe Piccione Caterina Faggio Vincenzo Monteverde |
| author_sort | Francesca Arfuso |
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| description | In the present study, the changes in the markers of stress and inflammatory responses of 12 Standardbred horses were investigated before and after exercise during late spring and summer. The environmental temperature, relative humidity, and temperature–humidity index (THI) were assessed during this study. From horses, blood sampling, measurement of heart and respiratory rate (HR and RR), and measurement of rectal temperature (RT) were performed before exercise (Pre) and within 5 min following the end of the exercise (Post). THI values showed mild stress in June and high stress in July. Direct erythrocyte indices statistically increased after exercise compared to the rest condition (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Higher serum cortisol, α1-, α2-, and β-globulin values were found at Post than at Pre (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas lower serum albumin and A/G ratio values were found at Post than at Pre. The HR, RR, and RT statistically increased at Post than at Pre (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The month influenced the values of RR, platelets, cortisol, albumin, α1-, α2-, and β-globulins (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, the results of this study confirmed the well-recognized physiological response of athletic horses to re-establish homeostasis following exercise. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
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| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-8a0d4e89813c4350b7b3c45467aa18a52025-08-20T02:33:39ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011510143610.3390/ani15101436The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred HorsesFrancesca Arfuso0Maria Rizzo1Laura Perillo2Federica Arrigo3Elisabetta Giudice4Giuseppe Piccione5Caterina Faggio6Vincenzo Monteverde7Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Prevention, Provincial Health Company of Palermo, Via Carmelo Onorato, 6, 90129 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Giovanni Palatucci snc, 98168 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, ItalyZooprophylactic Institute of Sicily “A. Mirri”, 90129 Palermo, ItalyIn the present study, the changes in the markers of stress and inflammatory responses of 12 Standardbred horses were investigated before and after exercise during late spring and summer. The environmental temperature, relative humidity, and temperature–humidity index (THI) were assessed during this study. From horses, blood sampling, measurement of heart and respiratory rate (HR and RR), and measurement of rectal temperature (RT) were performed before exercise (Pre) and within 5 min following the end of the exercise (Post). THI values showed mild stress in June and high stress in July. Direct erythrocyte indices statistically increased after exercise compared to the rest condition (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Higher serum cortisol, α1-, α2-, and β-globulin values were found at Post than at Pre (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas lower serum albumin and A/G ratio values were found at Post than at Pre. The HR, RR, and RT statistically increased at Post than at Pre (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The month influenced the values of RR, platelets, cortisol, albumin, α1-, α2-, and β-globulins (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Overall, the results of this study confirmed the well-recognized physiological response of athletic horses to re-establish homeostasis following exercise.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1436cortisolexercisehematologyheat stresshorseserum globulins |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Arfuso Maria Rizzo Laura Perillo Federica Arrigo Elisabetta Giudice Giuseppe Piccione Caterina Faggio Vincenzo Monteverde The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses Animals cortisol exercise hematology heat stress horse serum globulins |
| title | The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses |
| title_full | The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses |
| title_short | The Effect of Ambient Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Temperature–Humidity Index on Stress Hormone and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Adult Standardbred Horses |
| title_sort | effect of ambient temperature relative humidity and temperature humidity index on stress hormone and inflammatory response in exercising adult standardbred horses |
| topic | cortisol exercise hematology heat stress horse serum globulins |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1436 |
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