J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Geor, R. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Geor, R. J.
J. Anim. Sci. 2005. 83:E32-E36
© 2005 American Society of Animal Science

Role of dietary energy source in the expression of chronic exertional myopathies in horses1

R. J. Geor2

Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada

2 Correspondence—phone: 519-824-4120, ext. 54324; fax: 519-767-1450; e-mail: rgeor{at}uoguelph.ca.

Muscle disorders characterized by the development of pain and stiffness during and after exercise (exertional rhabdomyolysis, ER) are common in horses. Two heritable forms of chronic ER have been identified: 1) polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), a condition characterized in quarter horses and related breeds, but also reported to occur in other breeds; and 2) recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) in Thoroughbreds. Although the pathophysiology of PSSM and RER are different, there is epidemiological and experimental evidence that feeding diets rich in hydrolyzable carbohydrates (starch and simple sugars) enhances the phenotypic expression of both disorders. The PSSM is characterized by increased insulin sensitivity, excessive muscle glycogen storage, and the accumulation of amylase-resistant polysaccharide in muscle. The feeding of concentrates rich in hydrolyzable carbohydrates may enhance disease expression by increasing the quantity of glucose available for muscle glycogen synthesis. On the other hand, diets rich in starches and simples sugars may increase clinical expression of RER via enhancement of stress and anxiety, factors known to increase the risk of ER in horses with RER. A decrease in the frequency and severity of ER has been observed when horses with PSSM and RER are fed diets with reduced DE from hydrolyzable carbohydrates (<10 to 15% of total diet) and increased DE from fat (15 to 20%) and other energy sources, such as beet pulp and soybean hulls.

Key Words: Exertional Rhabdomyolysis • Horse • Hydrolyzable Carbohydrates • Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy • Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2005 by the American Society of Animal Science.