Plasma constituents during incremental treadmill exercise in intact and splenectomised horses

Abstract

Six intact and 6 splenectomised mares were given an incremental exercise test on a treadmill to examine the fluid and electrolyte changes associated with exercise and the role of the spleen in these changes. Blood samples were obtained at rest and at the end of each 1‐min step of the test. Exercise at 7 m/sec caused significant (P<0.05) increases in plasma osmolality (intact, +9.9%; splenectomised, +6.2%), plasma protein concentration (intact, +15.8%; splenectomised, +11.4%), and plasma K+ concentration (intact 46%; splenectomised, +57%). Plasma Na+ concentration did not increase significantly (P>0.05) in either group (intact =2.7%; splenectomised, =3.5%). This appears to be the first record..