RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Limited information existed on performance tests in Iranian Arab horses. AIMS: The objective of this study is to investigate time related changes of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and oxidative/antioxidant biomarkers in the serum of Arabian horses before and after regular training. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from jugular vein of 25 Arabian horses before exercise; 5 h and 18 h after exercise and used to measure the cTnI, ANP, malondialdehyde (MDA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentrations. Data analysis was performed using SAS. RESULTS: Significant time related changes were seen for cTnI, MDA, and GPX concentrations (P<0.05). There were no time significant variations in the concentrations of ANP, FRAP and SOD. The values of cTnI and MDA significantly increased after exercise. The amounts of GPX significantly increased 5 h after exercise and then decreased up to 18 h after exercise. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study can be used in future studies in evaluating the health status of Arabian horses. In addition, the present results can be used as primarily described data in the evaluation of Arabian horses.