Physiological Response to Exercise-induced Stress and Stressful Environmental Stimuli: Insights from Systems Biology

Editorial

16 February 2024

Editorial: Physiological response to exercise-induced stress and stressful environmental stimuli: insights from systems biology

Katia Cappelli

Morteza Hosseini-Ghaffari

Vincenzo Lopreiato

and

Samanta Mecocci

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0 citations

Editors

Katia Cappelli

University of Perugia

Vincenzo Lopreiato

University of Messina

Morteza Hosseini-Ghaffari

University of Bonn

Impact

Original Research

17 April 2023

Jowita Grzędzicka

, 2 more and

Olga Witkowska-Piłaszewicz

Increased training loads in both human and equine athletes are generally implemented to improve their physical performance. These loads are tolerated only within appropriate training periodization with regard to recovery time. Otherwise, training overload causes failure in the systemic adaptation, which at first leads to overreaching, and progressively to overtraining syndrome (OTS). Exercise endocrinology, and anabolic/catabolic balance as an indicator of athlete performance status and OTS has continued to attract attention. In human medicine, changes in testosterone and cortisol levels, as well as the testosterone to cortisol ratio (T/C; anabolic index), are suggested to be sensitive stress markers. However, there is a lack of research investigating these parameters for use in equine sports medicine. The aim of the study was to investigate the differences in testosterone, cortisol, and T/C in response to a single training session in two types of equine sports: endurance and race, together with serum amyloid A (SAA), the main acute phase response indicator of physical effort, and the overall health status in horses. Two groups of horses were enrolled in the study: endurance (n = 12) and racehorses (n = 32) of different fitness level. Blood samples were obtained before and after the exercise. On average, T increased 2.5 times after the race training in experienced racehorses and dropped in endurance horses regardless the fitness level (p < 0.05). In endurance horses, a decrease in T/C occurred after training in inexperienced horses (p < 0.05). In racehorses, a T/C decrease occurred in the inexperienced group (p < 0.05) and an increase in the experienced (p < 0.01). In conclusion, T/C ratio was found to be a potentially reliable indicator of fitness status especially in racing horses. These findings provide insight into the physiological response of the horses to different types of exercise and the potential use of hormone levels as markers of performance and adaptation.

2,556 views

6 citations

Changes in the mRNA expression of PFK (A), MCT1 (B), and MCT4 (C) at 4 h after exercise compared to before exercise (pre) in COOL (blue) and HOT (red).

Original Research

21 August 2023

Acute exercise in a hot environment increases heat shock protein 70 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α mRNA in Thoroughbred horse skeletal muscle

Yusaku Ebisuda

, 7 more and

Hajime Ohmura

2,129 views

2 citations

Original Research

03 November 2022

Different genotype and a liquid whey-supplemented diet influence the resilience of pigs through immune-modulation and anti-inflammatory response

Enrico D'Alessandro

, 6 more and

Alessandro Zumbo

This study evaluated (i) whether weight gain and levels of inflammatory and immune markers including white blood cells (WBC), serum haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, albumin, and globulin fractions change between the Nero Siciliano pig breed and the crossbreed Landrace x Large White (LxLW) reared under the same environmental and farming conditions; and (ii) whether a liquid whey diet supplementation affects the investigated parameters in both genotypes. In this study, 10 crossbreed LxLW and 10 Nero Siciliano pigs were given control feed, representing the control groups (CTRC and CTRNS), whereas 10 crossbreed LxLW and 10 Nero Siciliano pigs were given control feed supplemented with liquid whey for 2 months, representing the experimental groups (WC and WNS). From each pig, body weight and blood were collected before experimental diet supplementation (T0), and one (T1) and two (T2) months after the start of the diet supplemented with whey. The white blood cell count (WBC), serum haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, total proteins, albumin and globulin fraction concentration were assessed. Two-way analysis of variance showed an increasing trend of body weight both in the control and experimental groups of the two pig genotypes throughout the monitoring period (p < 0.01) without a significant effect of genotype and diet (p > 0.05). The concentration of haptoglobin, β1- and β2-globulins was affected by pig genotype, diet supplementation, and time (p < 0.01). The values of WBC, C-reactive protein, albumin, α-globulins, and A/G ratio were affected by diet supplementation (p < 0.01) and time (p < 0.01) without an influence of genotype (p > 0.05). Nero Siciliano pigs showed lower levels of haptoglobin, β1-globulin, and β2-globulin compared to crossbreed LxLW. Nero Siciliano pigs and crossbred LxLW fed with liquid whey showed lower levels of WBC, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, α-, β1-, and β2-globulins and higher values of albumin compared to control groups. The results reinforced the hypothesis that autochthonous breeds possess higher resilience to farming conditions when compared to allochthonous breeds. Moreover, an immune-modulatory and an anti-inflammatory power of liquid whey dietary supplementation is suggested probably thanks to its content in natural bioactive substances including anti-inflammatory cytokines and anti-oxidative factors.

1,636 views

8 citations

Behavioural parameters of pigs housed in AHS or CONV measured during a cognitive maze task done over four successive trials (T1, 2, 3, 4) before and after a 21-h social isolation challenge. H, housing effect; D, day effect; Tr, trial effect; H×D, housing × day interaction; H×Tr, housing × trial interaction; D×Tr, day × trial interaction; H×D×Tr, housing × day × trial interaction; ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05, #P < 0.1, nsnot significant. In case of interaction effects, within-timepoint differences between housing systems are indicated by*. The figures also indicate whether and for which housing system a difference between the last trial before isolation and the last trial after isolation was found.

Original Research

11 April 2022

Effects of a Multi-Suckling System Combined With Enriched Housing Post-Weaning on Response and Cognitive Resilience to Isolation

Severine P. Parois

, 4 more and

J. Elizabeth Bolhuis

Improving welfare is still a critical issue in pig husbandry. Upgrades of the housing environment seem to be a promising solution to optimise resilience as a whole, and therefore improve animal welfare. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an alternative housing system to enhance cognitive resilience and also to promote the pigs' welfare. A total of 96 piglets from two contrasted housing systems [alternative housing system (AHS) vs. conventional system (CONV)] was used. The major upgrades of the alternative system were multi-litter housing during lactation, delayed weaning, extra space allowance, and environmental enrichment from birth onwards. To estimate welfare, weight, and feed intake (as a general indicator of performances), the tear staining area (as a chronic stress indicator), behavioural postures, heart rate traits, and saliva cortisol concentration were measured over a 21 h-isolation. To assess cognitive resilience, the pigs were subjected to a maze with a social reward both before and after the isolation challenge and indicators of cognitive abilities were followed. The AHS pigs showed lower cortisol levels and tear staining area before the challenge, demonstrating overall better welfare due to the alternative housing conditions. During the challenge, AHS pigs had a lower heart rate, higher heart rate variability, and higher vagal activity than the CONV pigs, which might indicate a reduced sensitivity to the stressor. AHS pigs appeared to have a better long-term memory tested in a maze. Providing social and environmental enrichments, that fit the satisfaction of the essential needs of the pigs better, appears to be beneficial for pig welfare as a whole. Its effects on cognitive resilience still need to be proven.

2,746 views

3 citations