Ergothioneeine Modulates Interleukin-6 Serum Concentration in Arabian Stallions Following a Two Thousand Meterm Race at Maximum Speed in a Hot-Dry Environment

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Adakole Adah ¹
• Joseph Ayo ²
• Peter Rekwot ³
• Tagang Aluwong ²
• Adah Arimie Deborah ⁴

¹ Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, P. M. B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.

² Department of Veterinary Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, P. M. B. 1044, Samaru- Zaria, Nigeria.

³ National Animal Production Research Institute, P. M. B. 1096, Shika-Zaria, Nigeria.

⁴ Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, P.M.B. 1515, Ilorin, Nigeria.

10.22067/ijvst.2025.87551.1368

Abstract

This experiment was performed to determine the effect of ergothioneine’s effect on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations after a race of 2000 m in Arabian stallions at the highest possible speed in a hot-dry environment. Twenty-four apparently healthy stallions of the Arabian breed were used. The average weight and age of the horses were 401 ± 32.11 kg and 5.7 ± 0.54 years, respectively. The experimental subjects were split assigned into three units groups of eight stallions each. Group 1 (EXEN) was neither treated with ergothioneine nor exercised. Group II (EXEC) was not treated with ergothioneine but was exercised. The third group (EXEE) was treated with ergothioneine per os at a dose rate of 0.02 mg/kg daily for one month prior to the experiment. Meteorological parameters of the study site were recorded using a dry and wet-bulb thermometer. The stallions in the EXEC and EXEE groups were made to run a race of 2000 m at the highest possible speed (60 Km/h) by trained riders. Samples of Blood samples of 10 ml were collected from all stallions before the experiment and immediately after the experiment and two hours post-experiment. The hematological parameters and concentration of IL-6 were determined in all samples.  The concentration of IL-6 was found to be higher significantly higher in the EXEE group than in others, suggesting a modulatory role of ergothioneine. Therefore, it was concluded that ergothioneine enhanced IL-6 following exercise and would be beneficial to for stallions during exercise.

Keywords

• Ergothioneine
• Interleukin 6
• Hematological parameters
• Exercise
• Arabian stallions

Main Subjects

• Physiology

---