Concentrations of 15-ketodihydro-PGF2alpha, cortisol, and progesterone in the plasma of healthy and pathologic newborn foals.

The research investigates the differences in plasma hormone profiles, particularly those of prostaglandins (PGs), cortisol (C), and progesterone (P4), between healthy and diseased newborn foals during their first two weeks of life. The study highlights differences in these hormone levels, and indicates that they may reflect the inability of sick foals to navigate the transition between fetal and neonatal life effectively.

Research Objectives and Methodology

• The primary aim of the study was to establish an understanding about the plasma concentrations of PGs, C, and P4 in both healthy and diseased newborn foals. The authors recognized a lack of information on hormone profiles during pathologic processes in newborn foals, which prompted this study.
• For the research, blood samples were collected daily from 40 diseased and 24 healthy at-term foals during their first 2 weeks of life. Sampling was done before the diseased foals received any treatment with non-steroidal drugs.
• These samples were then analyzed using a method known as a radioimmunoassay to determine the concentrations of the mentioned hormones.

Findings

• The hormone 15-Ketodihydro-PGF(2alpha) (PGM) was consistently observed to have higher levels in diseased foals as compared to healthy ones. These enhanced levels are suspected to be linked to the roles of PGs in completing organ maturation as well as the presence of conditions like oxidative stress or inflammation.
• Similar trends were seen in the levels of C and P4 as well. In diseased foals, PGM was the only hormone that was significantly higher, especially in foals that didn’t survive, although C levels showed a similar pattern.
• Upon assessing foals with specific diseases, lower levels of PGM and C were observed in premature foals at 12 hours of life, in contrast to higher P4 levels compared to healthy controls.
• Overall, the results of this study reveal significant differences in plasma hormone levels between healthy and diseased foals. These differences were particularly stark during the first two days post-birth, possibly indicating an inability of the diseased foals to manage the transition from fetal to neonatal life effectively.