Concentrations of prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in pituitary and serum of horses: effect of sex, season and reproductive state.
Abstract: Pituitary and serum from 86 male or female horses of various reproductive states were collected in the normal breeding season (summer) and in the nonbreeding season (winter) at a commercial slaughterhouse. Concentrations of prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and reproductive steroids in serum and gross appearance of the reproductive tract and gonads were used to catagorize reproductive state. Concentrations of PRL were higher (P less than .01) in summer than in winter in pituitary and serum of mares, stallions and geldings. In summer, mares had higher (P less than .01) concentrations of PRL in serum than stallions. In mares, concentrations of LH in pituitary were higher (P less than .05) in summer than in winter. Concentrations of LH in serum were higher (P less than .01) in summer than in winter in mares and geldings, higher (P less than .01) in mares than in stallions in summer, higher (P less than .01) in geldings than in stallions in summer and higher (P less than .01) in mares with low serum progesterone (P) concentrations than in mares with high P concentrations in summer. Concentrations of FSH in pituitary and serum did not differ between summer and winter for any type of horse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1986-09-01 PubMed ID: 3093438DOI: 10.2527/jas1986.633854xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research study analyzed variations in the levels of certain hormones in horses based on different factors such as sex, season, and reproductive status. The hormones studied were prolactin, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone.
Research methodology
- The study was conducted using pituitary and serum collected from 86 male and female horses in different reproductive states.
- These specimens were collected during both the normal breeding season (summer) and nonbreeding season (winter) at a commercial slaughterhouse.
- The hormone concentrations were measured through a process called radioimmunoassay, a technique used to measure the concentration of specific proteins in a solution.
- The study also accounted for other factors that could indicate the reproductive state of the horses, such as the concentrations of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, reproductive steroids, and the general appearance of the horse’s reproductive organs.
Findings and interpretation
- The researchers found that prolactin concentrations were notably higher in the summer season compared to winter in all types of horses. Furthermore, mares had higher prolactin levels in their serum than stallions during the summer.
- Luteinizing hormone levels in the pituitary were found to be higher during summer for mares. Summer season also saw higher levels of this hormone in the serum for mares and geldings, as compared to stallions.
- Higher luteinizing hormone levels were also observed in mares with low serum progesterone concentrations during summer.
- The study did not find any significant difference in the concentration of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) between the two seasons for any type of horse.
Implications
- The results underscore the influence of seasonal and sex-based variations on hormone concentration in horses, with potential implications for understanding their reproductive behavior and physiological responses to different seasons.
- These findings could potentially contribute to best practices in managed breeding programs and the general care of horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Thompson DL, Johnson L, St George RL, Garza F.
(1986).
Concentrations of prolactin, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in pituitary and serum of horses: effect of sex, season and reproductive state.
J Anim Sci, 63(3), 854-860.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1986.633854x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Luteinizing Hormone / blood
- Luteinizing Hormone / metabolism
- Male
- Orchiectomy
- Pituitary Gland, Anterior / metabolism
- Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / blood
- Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / metabolism
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
- Prolactin / blood
- Prolactin / metabolism
- Seasons
- Sex Factors
Grant Funding
- HD16773 / NICHD NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Abdel-Khalek AE, Kalaba Z, Younan GE, Zaghlool H, Aboelenin SM, Soliman MM, El-Tahan AM, El-Tahan HM. Pre-mating plasma prolactin profile affects California doe rabbit reproductive performance. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022 Apr;29(4):2329-2335.
- Sheldon SA, Aleman M, Costa LRR, Santoyo AC, Weich KM, Howey Q, Madigan JE. Luteinizing hormone concentrations in healthy horses and horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking over an 8-hour period. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):885-888.
- Zimmerman KL, Panciera DL, Hoeschele I, Monroe WE, Todd SM, Werre SR, LeRoith T, Fecteau K, Lake BB. Adrenocortical Challenge Response and Genomic Analyses in Scottish Terriers With Increased Alkaline Phosphate Activity. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:231.
- Dhakal P, Tsunoda N, Nakai R, Kitaura T, Harada T, Ito M, Nagaoka K, Toishi Y, Taniyama H, Gen W, Taya K. Annual Changes in Day-length, Temperature, and Circulating Reproductive Hormones in Thoroughbred Stallions and Geldings. J Equine Sci 2011;22(2):29-36.
- Bell T, Kyriazopoulou P, Mowbray C, Murphy BA. Equine Headshaking Syndrome: Triggers, Seasonality, and Treatment Efficacy in Australia. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 13;14(6).
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