Influence of Marcha Exercise on the Serum Concentrations of Acute-Phase Proteins in Mangalarga Marchador Horses

Abstract The acute-phase response (APR) is a rapid, nonspecific, systemic response occurring secondary to skeletal muscle damage and might be a protective physiological mechanism. The response has a number of components including increases in serum concentrations of the acute-phase proteins (APPs), which are primarily produced in the liver. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of marcha gait exercise on serum concentrations of the immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin (Alb), α 1 -antitripsin, haptoglobin (Hp), and α 1 -acid glycoprotein in 35 Mangalarga Marchador horses (18 geldings and 17 mares). The study also aimed to evaluate the differences between genders of the response to marcha gait exercise. Blood samples were assessed before and after official marcha contest. Acute-phase proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results were submitted to analysis of variance using the SAS statistical program, and means were compared by Student-Newman-Keuls test ( P