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PloS one2023; 18(3); e0283116; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283116

Autonomic nervous system balance in parturient mares: Spontaneous vs induced delivery.

Abstract: Delivery is not easily predictable in horses and the consequences of dystocia can be serious for both the mare and foal. An induction protocol with low doses of oxytocin has been reported as a safe procedure. This study investigates the effect of induced delivery on at-term mares' sympathetic-vagal balance. Fourteen mares were included and divided into two groups, one subjected to spontaneous delivery (SD), and one to induced delivery (ID). In both groups, an ECG was recorded using an elastic belt with integrated smart textile electrodes. The recording started before the delivery (Basal), continued close to delivery (Pre-delivery) and during delivery (Delivery), and ended after parturition (Placental expulsion). From the ECGs, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters relating to time and frequency domains and non-linear analysis were extrapolated. The HRV analysis was performed both within the same group (IntraGA) and between the two groups (InterGA). In the present study, spontaneous and induced delivery did not appear to differ in autonomic nervous system functioning. In IntraGA analysis, both for SD and ID mares, delivery and placental expulsion periods were parasympathetic dominated since vagal-related HRV parameters increased. Moreover, no differences were found in InterGA comparison between SD and ID mares, except for the pre-delivery period of ID mares, during which both branches of the autonomic nervous system were activated. These results are in line with the literature on parasympathetic dominance during parturition and no change in Heart Rate Variability following exogenous oxytocin administration in parturient mares.
Copyright: © 2023 Felici et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2023-03-17 PubMed ID: 36930584PubMed Central: PMC10022798DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283116Google 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.

The research investigated the effects of labor induction on the balance of the nervous system in horses, comparing induced deliveries with natural ones. It found that induced labor didn’t significantly differ from natural birth in terms of nervous system functioning.

Objective of the Research

This study aimed to compare the differences in the autonomic nervous system function of mares during induced and spontaneous deliveries. The researchers wanted to observe the impact of delivery induction on the sympathetic-vagal balance of the horses.

Study Design and Methodology

  • Fourteen mares at term were included in the study and divided into two groups: spontaneous delivery (SD) and induced delivery (ID).
  • An ECG was recorded in both groups using a belt with inbuilt smart textile electrodes, before, close to, during, and after delivery.
  • The researchers monitored heart rate variability (HRV) parameters to study the autonomic nervous system’s activity.
  • The HRV analysis was performed both within the same group (IntraGA) and between the two groups (InterGA).

Findings of the Research

  • HRV analysis revealed no significant difference in autonomic nervous system functioning between spontaneously and induced labor.
  • Analysis within each group revealed that both delivery types were parasympathetic dominated, demonstrated by an increase in vagal-related HRV parameters during the delivery and placental expulsion stage.
  • There were no major differences observed in the inter-group comparison, except for the ID mares pre-delivery period, where both branches of the autonomic nervous system were activated.

Conclusion

The study suggests that induction of labor does not significantly impact the balance of the autonomic nervous system in mares. The findings are consistent with existing literature that demonstrates parasympathetic dominance during natural birth and no substantial change in heart rate following the administration of synthetic oxytocin in mare’s labor.

Cite This Article

APA
(2023). Autonomic nervous system balance in parturient mares: Spontaneous vs induced delivery. PLoS One, 18(3), e0283116. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283116

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 3
Pages: e0283116
PII: e0283116

Researcher Affiliations

MeSH Terms

  • Pregnancy
  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Oxytocin / pharmacology
  • Placenta
  • Parturition / physiology
  • Autonomic Nervous System
  • Dystocia

Conflict of Interest Statement

NO authors have competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Chompoosan C, Pongthaisong P, Kenchaiwong W, Pontaema T, Lerdweeraphon W. Effects of pregnancy on electrocardiographic, vasovagal tonus index, and echocardiographic variables in horses. Vet World 2023 Aug;16(8):1765-1771.
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