Ergothioneine modulates Interleukin-6 concentration in Arabian Stallions following a 2000 m race at maximum speed in a hot-dry environment

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• Adakole Adah ¹
• Joseph Ayo ²
• Tagang Aluwong ³
• Peter Rekwot ⁴
• ADAH ARIMIE DEBORAH ⁵

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 Department of Veterinary Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

⁴ National Animal Production Research Institute Shika-Zaria.

⁵ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

10.22067/ijvst.2025.87551.1368

Abstract

Experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of ergothioneine on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations following an exercise of 2000 m in Arabian stallions at maximum speed in a hot-dry environment. Twenty-four apparently healthy Arabian stallions with a mean body weight of 401 ± 32.11 kg (395-404 kg) and aged 5.7 ± 0.54 years (5-6 years) were used for this experiment. The stallions were divided into three groups of eight stallions each. Group 1 (EXEN) was neither administered with ergothioneine nor exercised. Group II (EXEC) was not administered with ergothioneine but was exercised. The third group (EXEE) was administered with ergothioneine orally at a dose of 0.02 mg/kg daily for four weeks before the experiment. Meteorological parameters of the study site were determined using a wet and dry-bulb thermometer. The stallions in the EXEC and EXEE groups were subjected to a race of 2000 m at a maximum speed by trained riders. Blood samples of 10 ml were collected from all stallions before the experiment and immediately after the experiment and two hours post-experiment. The haematological parameters and concentration of IL-6 were determined in all samples. The IL-6 concentration was found to be significantly higher in the EXEE group suggesting a modulatory role of ergothioneine. Therefore, it was concluded that ergothioneine enhanced IL-6 following exercise and would be beneficial to stallions during exercise

Keywords

• Interleukin 6
• Haematological parameters
• Exercise
• Arabian stallions

Main Subjects

• Physiology

---