Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide in standardbred and Finnhorse trotters during and after exercise.

To study the exercise-induced changes in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), a hormone with cardiovascular and renal effects, an incremental submaximal exercise test on a high-speed treadmill was carried out with Standardbred and Finnhorse trotters, the former bred for speed and the latter originally for heavy work. Standardbreds performed the 2 min exercise intervals at speeds of 6, 7, 8, 9 m s-1 and Finnhorses, according to their training status, at 5, 6, 7, 8 m s-1, 4, 5, 6, 7 m s-1 or 5, 6, 7 m s-1. Steady-state heart rate (HR) was reached within each 2 min interval. The increase in HR was linear and proportional to work intensity and physical condition and it peaked, average 204 beats min-1, during the last speed of the treadmill. Plasma ANP increased significantly and equally, by 27 +/- 4 pg mL-1, in both breeds and peaked at 5 min post-exercise. The rise in ANP during exercise showed good linearity with HR and increasing work intensity. The decrease of ANP after exercise was slow, which may be connected to the regulation of water and electrolytes. Interbreed differences in plasma ANP were not observed. The results suggest a role of ANP in cardiovascular control and fluid balance during and after exercise. In addition to other possible releasing factors during exercise, the increase in HR explains about 40% of the variability in the plasma ANP values.