Abstract: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a neuroendocrine system involved in the coping response to stressful challenges during exercise stimuli. Exercise represents a significant disruptor of homeostasis, inducing an ACTH-cortisol co-secretion, based on different characteristics of exercise in sport horses. Based on this statement, the aim of this study is to evaluate the circulating adrenocorticotropin and cortisol changes in Standardbred trotters, after training and racing sessions, considering the different age and sex. In particular, the aim is to determine to what extent the level of ACTH and cortisol increases during maximum effort in competition conditions (racing), and to compare two exercise conditions of different intensity, training and racing sessions, and effects on ACTH and cortisol responses. Ten Standardbreds, three females and seven males, clinically healthy, were enrolled and subjected to two exercise conditions: a non-competitive session (training) and then a competitive event (racing). Four of them were 2-year-olds and a further six were 3-year-olds. Training and racing effects on both ACTH (p < 0.01) and cortisol (p < 0.01) values were obtained. Compared to the training session, horses showed greater ACTH concentrations at rest (p < 0.001), at 5 (p < 0.01) and 30 min (p < 0.001), and lower cortisol concentrations only at rest (p < 0.01) after racing; 2- and 3-year-old horses showed the greater ACTH concentrations at 5 and 30 min (p < 0.01) post-racing; males showed the greater ACTH concentrations at 5 min and 30 min (p < 0.01) post-racing. The different stimuli of the two contexts, and differences in exercise intensity, such as training and competitive event, may have affected the direction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response, both as an ability to adapt to physical stress of different intensity and as a preparatory activity for coping with stimuli. In conclusion, training and racing events induced a different HPA axis response in which both emotional experience and physical maturity could induce a significant adaptive response. As ACTH and cortisol concentrations in adult equids are extremely heterogeneous, further investigation is required to explore how different variables can influence the hormonal dynamics and their role as expressions of adaptive strategies to stress in horses.
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The study investigates how the levels of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol in racehorses change in response to training and racing, considering factors like age and sex. These hormones play a significant role in helping horses cope with the stresses of exercise.
Study Objectives and Methods
The researchers aimed to understand how much the levels of ACTH and cortisol increase during strenuous exercise in competitive conditions, and to contrast this with the hormone responses during training sessions of less intensity.
The study involved ten healthy Standardbred trotters of varied ages and both sexes, who were subjected to both training (non-competitive) sessions and racing (competitive) events.
The impact of these different types of exercise on ACTH and cortisol levels was measured and compared.
Results and Findings
Both ACTH and cortisol levels varied during training and racing, with racing causing higher ACTH concentrations at rest, and 5 and 30 minutes post-race.
Cortisol levels were only noticeably lower at rest after racing as opposed to training.
The study also found that 2 and 3-year-old horses had greater concentrations of ACTH 5 and 30 minutes after racing, compared to their older counterparts. Similarly, males had higher ACTH concentrations after racing than females.
The variations in the hormone levels suggest that the intensity and nature of exercise impacts the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which helps the horses adapt to different levels of physical stress and prepare for different stimuli.
Interpretation and Conclusion
The findings show different HPA axis responses to training and racing exercises, suggesting that factors such as emotional experience and physical maturity can drive significant adaptive responses in horses.
Considering the wide variance seen in ACTH and cortisol levels in adult horses, the researchers argue for further investigation to unpack how different factors can affect hormonal responses and adaptive strategies to stress in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Cravana C, Medica P, Fazio E, Satué K, Brancato G, La Fauci D, Bruschetta G.
(2025).
Circulating ACTH and Cortisol Investigations in Standardbred Racehorses Under Training and Racing Sessions.
Vet Sci, 12(5).
https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12050493
Unit of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Medica, Pietro
Unit of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Fazio, Esterina
Unit of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Satué, Katiuska
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary, Cardenal Herrera-CEU University, Alfara del Patriarca, 46115 Valencia, Spain.
Brancato, Giacoma
Unit of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
La Fauci, Deborah
Unit of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Bruschetta, Giuseppe
Unit of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
None of the authors of this paper has a financial or personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
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