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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(6); doi: 10.3390/ani11061517

Association between the Area of the Highest Flank Temperature and Concentrations of Reproductive Hormones during Pregnancy in Polish Konik Horses-A Preliminary Study.

Abstract: Determination of the pregnancy status is one of the most important factors for effective pregnancy management. Knowledge of the stage of pregnancy is important to interpret many of the reproductive hormones' concentrations, including progesterone (P4), estrone sulfate (E1S), 17-ß estradiol (E2), and relaxin (REL). However, it is limited in wildlife or captive equids that cannot be handled. Reproductive hormones affect regional blood flow, the proliferation of tissues, and local metabolism intensity. Therefore, this preliminary study aimed to assess changes in thermal features of the abdomen lateral surface and concentrations of reproductive hormones in Polish native pregnant mares. The study was carried out on 14 non-pregnant and 26 pregnant Polish Konik mares during eleven months of pregnancy. Infrared thermography was conducted to image the lateral surface of mares' abdomen (Px1) and flank area (Px2); P4, E1S, E2, and REL concentrations in serum were also determined. The evidence of the association between the area with the highest temperatures (Area of Tmax) and serum concentrations of P4 (the slope = 1.373; p = 0.9245) and REL (the slope = 1.342; p = 0.4324) were noted dependent across months of pregnancy. Measures of superficial body temperatures were found to change monthly, similarly to ambient temperatures, with no evidence of coincidence with changes in reproductive hormone concentrations. Individual thermal characteristics of the lateral surface of the abdomen differed between pregnant and non-pregnant mares in other periods. Differences in maximal and average temperature and Area of Tmax were observed from the sixth month of pregnancy, and those in minimal temperature were observed from the eighth month.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-23 PubMed ID: 34071111PubMed Central: PMC8224734DOI: 10.3390/ani11061517Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study associates the changes in temperature patterns in the flank area of pregnant Polish Konik horses, as observed using infrared imaging, with alterations in reproductive hormone levels. The research proposes that this non-invasive method could potentially be used to accurately identify pregnancy and monitor its progress in horses.

Objective of the Research

After stating that accurate determination of pregnancy status and its stages is crucial in effectively managing equine reproduction, the authors identified a gap – lack of non-invasive techniques to achieve this, especially in wildlife or captive equids. This led them to the following research objectives:

  • To investigate changes in thermal features of the lateral abdominal surface in Polish native pregnant horses using infrared thermography.
  • To associate these thermal changes with variations in reproductive hormone concentrations.

Methodology

The study involved 14 non-pregnant and 26 pregnant Polish Konik mares over eleven months of pregnancy. The tools and methods used in the research included:

  • Infrared thermography to image the lateral surface of the mares’ abdomen (Px1) and flank area (Px2).
  • Measurement of progesterone (P4), estrone sulfate (E1S), 17-ß estradiol (E2), and relaxin (REL) concentrations in serum to scrutinize changes in various reproductive hormones.

Findings

An association was found between the highest temperature area on the flank (Area of Tmax) and serum concentrations of P4 and REL, dependent on the month of pregnancy. The study discovered that:

  • Superficial body temperatures altered monthly, just as ambient temperatures do, without any evidence of this coinciding with changes in reproductive hormone concentrations.
  • Thermal characteristics of the lateral abdomen surface showed differences between pregnant and non-pregnant mares during certain periods.
  • Differences in maximum and average temperature and Area of Tmax were noticeable from the sixth month of pregnancy, while those in minimum temperature were noticeable from the eighth month.

Implications

The research presents thermal imaging as a promising non-invasive approach to identify and monitor pregnancy in horses. Understanding the association between flank temperature patterns and reproductive hormone levels could be a step towards improving reproductive management in horses. However, it’s a preliminary study, and more research would be required to explore the potential of this technique.

Cite This Article

APA
Maśko M, Zdrojkowski Ł, Wierzbicka M, Domino M. (2021). Association between the Area of the Highest Flank Temperature and Concentrations of Reproductive Hormones during Pregnancy in Polish Konik Horses-A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel), 11(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061517

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 6

Researcher Affiliations

Maśko, Małgorzata
  • Department of Animal Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.
Zdrojkowski, Łukasz
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.
Wierzbicka, Małgorzata
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.
Domino, Małgorzata
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.

Grant Funding

  • 2019/03/X/NZ9/01759 "Miniatura 3" / the National Science Centre Poland,

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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