It’s official – the race results are in, and Lance Mackey has continued his family's tradition by being first to the finish line in Nome, Alaska. But what makes it a truly extraordinary event is the tenacity and persistence of the sled dogs who get the mushers there. To study the dogs and their incredible stamina, assistant professor Erica McKenzie from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oregon State University has collected blood protein levels of sled dogs participating in the annual Iditarod Trail Race in Alaska. Professor McKenzie is testing 100 dogs that have completed the 1,150-mile race. The research, funded by the American Kennel Club's Canine Health Foundation, focuses on measuring blood globulin levels in sled dogs participating in the Iditarod.
"There are several reasons why these dogs may have low blood globulin levels," said McKenzie, who works in the College of Veterinary Medicine. "One possibility is that globulins are being used to help meet the energy demands of exercise, which would be a somewhat novel finding from the perspective of traditional exercise physiology."
The Iditarod race started March 4, 2007. McKenzie traveled to the finish line in Nome, AK, for the on-the-spot data retrieval. By taking blood samples from 100 dogs, McKenzie will determine the prevalence of low blood globulin levels in dogs participating in the race. The new project stems from a previous 2004 research endeavor which featured running dogs in a simulated 500-mile race. One notable finding of the study was a significant decrease in the dog's blood globulin levels during the event. "The phenomenon was noted," McKenzie said of her project, "but it was never further studied."
McKenzie has worked with sled dogs for the last four years, including during the last Iditarod race where she was involved in studying antibodies to specific vaccines. In addition to McKenzie, Manoj Pastey, an assistant professor in veterinary medicine, is helping with the research project. Pastey says his job will involve taking the samples McKenzie collects and measuring the globulins in the blood.
Globulin, produced by the body, contains antibodies that protect against bacterial and viral infectious diseases. McKenzie expects this preliminary study will help define the prevalence of low blood globulin levels in racing sled dogs. Pastey says if the study produces some interesting findings, they will apply for a bigger grant for more extensive research. "It's important to know what's going on." Pastey said. "How do the dogs endure training? How do they run for so long? Why don't humans do that? It's a mystery, but right now we're waiting for those answers and conclusions."
The AKC Canine Health Foundation, founded in 1995 by the American Kennel Club, is the largest nonprofit worldwide to fund health research exclusively for canines. Their goal is to help dogs live longer, healthier lives. The AKC Canine Health Foundation is proud to be the leader in non-invasive genetic health research, stem cell research, and biotherapeutics benefiting both canines and humans. They’re proud to announce they have allocated more than $18 million in canine health research through 74 schools and research institutions worldwide.
For more information on the efforts of the Canine Health Foundation or how to donate, please visit www.akcchf.org or e-mail donate@akcchf.org.
-Reprinted with permission from Katie Thorn, Reporter for "The Daily Barometer," Oregon State University-
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