Assessing the Peripheral Levels of the Neurotransmitters Noradrenaline, Dopamine and Serotonin and the Oxidant/Antioxidant Equilibrium in Circus Horses.
Abstract: Due to the paucity of information on circus management effects on the welfare of horses, this study investigated the plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin, known to be indices of mental status, as well as the reactive oxygen metabolites (d-Roms) and the biological antioxidant potential (BAP), likely to denote the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium of organisms, in horses managed in different Italian circuses. For the study, 56 circus horses of different breeds and ages were enrolled and divided into six groups according to the horses' management (circus management, groups G1-G5; classic riding management representing the control group, CG). From each horse, blood samples were collected in order to assess the concentration of selected parameters. One-way ANOVA showed no differences ( > 0.05) in serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, d-Roms and BAP values between circus and control horses. No differences related to the breed of the horses enrolled in the study were found in the values of all investigated parameters ( > 0.05). Furthermore, neurotransmitters showed overlapping levels between the different age classes of investigated horses ( > 0.05); contrariwise, the age of the horse displayed a significant effect on BAP values, with the oldest horses (16-21 age class) exhibiting lower BAP values compared to 4-5, 6-10 and 11-15 age classes ( 0.05). The results gathered in the present study suggest that the mental status of horses under circus management was not compromised; however, better attention and care in the management of older horses is advocated, as they showed a lower biological antioxidant potential than younger horses; thus, they could be more susceptible to oxidative stress.
Publication Date: 2024-08-14 PubMed ID: 39199887PubMed Central: PMC11350772DOI: 10.3390/ani14162354Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study investigates the effect of circus management on the well-being of horses by analyzing the levels of neurotransmitters noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin, and the oxidant/antioxidant balance in their bodies. The research found no significant differences in these parameters between circus-managed horses and conventionally managed horses, indicating that circus management doesn’t negatively affect horse’s mental status. However, older horses were found to have lower biological antioxidant potential, suggesting they’re more susceptible to oxidative stress.
Study Objective and Method
- The study aimed to evaluate the impact of circus management on horses by monitoring certain physiological indicators. These included levels of the neurotransmitters noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin (which relate to mental well-being), as well as measures of their oxidant/antioxidant balance.
- To do this, 56 horses from various Italian circuses, of different breeds and ages, were grouped based on their management type. This included five groups under circus management (G1-G5), and a control group (CG) managed under traditional riding conditions.
- Blood samples were collected from each horse to determine the quantities of these indicators.
Findings
- The results showed no significant differences in levels of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, or the oxidant/antioxidant balance indicators (d-Roms and BAP) between the circus and control group horses.
- There were also no differences found in these indicators based on the breed of the horses.
- The study found that neurotransmitter levels were consistent across different age groups of horses, indicating no mental stress due to aging.
- However, older horses (those between 16 and 21 years old) had lower BAP (biological antioxidant potential) measurements compared to younger horses (4-5, 6-10, and 11-15 age groups). The levels of d-Roms, another measure of oxidant/antioxidant balance, were consistent across ages.
Implications
- The study’s findings suggest that circus management does not negatively impact a horse’s mental state, as evidenced by consistent levels of neurotransmitters noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin, and of oxidative balance markers.
- Nevertheless, the research highlighted a potential vulnerability in older horses, which exhibit lower BAP values, and hence, could be more susceptible to oxidative stress. Hence, more attention and special care might be needed for the management of older circus horses to prevent damage from oxidative stress.
Cite This Article
APA
Cocco R, Sechi S, Rizzo M, Arrigo F, Giannetto C, Piccione G, Arfuso F.
(2024).
Assessing the Peripheral Levels of the Neurotransmitters Noradrenaline, Dopamine and Serotonin and the Oxidant/Antioxidant Equilibrium in Circus Horses.
Animals (Basel), 14(16), 2354.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162354 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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