Urinary enzyme concentrations and urinalysis in healthy horses

ABSTRACT

The tubules of the kidneys are metabolically very active being responsible for the absorption or excretion of a wide range of substances. The transport of these compounds is facilitated by a variety of enzymes which can generally be found in large amounts in tubular cells. The regular turnover of these cells results in the presence of their enzymes in urine [enzymuria]. Measurement of the changes in the content of these enzymes in urine can be a good aid in detection of early kidney diseases. In this study the normal values of the following enzymes ALP [alkaline phosphatase] AST [aspartate aminotransfrase] ALT [Alanine amino transfrase] and creatinine in Iranian crossbreed horses were measured, the subjects were divided into two groups of males and females. The sex of the horses did not influence urinary enzymes activity [p>0.05]. Normal values of ALP, AST, ALT were found to be 3.99 +/- 1.23 Iu/L, 4.34 +/- 1.17 Iu/L 1.78 +/- 0.54 Iu/L respectively and creatinine was 3.70 +/- 0.69 g/L in males and 1.46 +/- 0.17 g/L in females