CORRELATIONS BETWEEN POTASSIUM, CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM IN BLOOD AND MUSCLE OF STANDARD-BRED TROTTERS

This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between the concentrations of potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium of plasma a nd muscle in horses, as interactions between these ions can be importa nt in the development of muscle cell injury, Blood samples and gluteal muscle biopsies were taken from 20 healthy Standardbreds to determine the potassium concentration in plasma (cK(+)(P)), red blood cells (cK (+)(RBC)), and muscle (cK(+)(M)), and the calcium and magnesium concen trations in plasma and muscle. No correlations were found between cK()(P), cK(+)(RBC), and cK(+)(M). Significant positive correlations were found between cK(+)(M) and muscle magnesium (p < 0.01); and cK(+)(P) and plasma calcium (p < 0.005). Significant negative correlations were found between cK(+)(M) and the percentage of muscle water (p < 0.005) ; and the muscle magnesium and calcium concentrations (p < 0.02).