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Development of diurnal rhythm in some metabolic parameters in foals.
Abstract: 1. The development of diurnal rhythm activity of FDPA, AspAT and A1AT and in levels of cortisol, T3 and T4 was observed in the blood serum of six foals. 2. The studies began when a foal was 7 days old and were repeated every month until foals reached 1 year of age. Blood samples were taken every 4 hr for one day each month. 3. As a control group four barren mares were used, kept and examined in the same conditions. 4. In mature mares, diurnal rhythms in activity of A1AT (acrophase at 2200 hr), AspAt (2400 hr) and cortisol (0630 hr) but in T3 only in summer months (acrophase at 0100 hr) were observed. 5. During the first 6 months of foal life, significantly higher mean levels of FDPA, A1AT, T3 and T4 than in control mares were found. 6. The cortisol level in foals was half as much as that of mature mares throughout the year. 7. In foals the diurnal rhythm in A1AT activity occurred in the 5th month and in AspAt--in the 12th month (acrophase at 2400 hr), but in cortisol levels it was developed already in the second month of foal life (acrophase at 0830 hr).
Publication Date: 1990-01-01 PubMed ID: 1971544DOI: 10.1016/0300-9629(90)90737-dGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study explores the development of diurnal rhythm in a variety of metabolic parameters (administration of enzymes and hormones) in foals. It suggests that these rhythms begin to occur around the time foals reach five months of age, which is indicative of metabolic and physiological maturity.
Methodology
- The researchers studied the diurnal rhythm, or daily cycle, of various enzymatic and hormonal activities in the blood serum of six foals.
- They commenced the studies when a foal was 7 days old and continued for a year, recording data every month.
- Blood samples from each foal were collected every four hours for a day each month.
- A control group comprising four barren mares was used for comparison, kept under similar conditions as the foals.
Findings in mature mares
- In the control group of mature mares, diurnal rhythms were observed in the activities of A1AT (antitrypsin), AspAT (aspartate aminotransferase), and cortisol.
- The peak activity or acrophase of these components occurred at different times: A1AT peaked at 10 pm, AspAt at midnight, and cortisol at 6:30 am.
- The T3 (triiodothyronine) hormone also exhibited diurnal rhythms, but only in the summer months, with an acrophase at 1 am.
Findings in foals
- In the first six months of life, foals exhibited significantly higher average levels of FDPA (Factor D properdin), A1AT (antitrypsin), T3 (triiodothyronine), and T4 (thyroxine) than those found in control mares.
- The cortisol levels in foals were half as much as those in mature mares throughout the year.
- The diurnal rhythm in the activity of A1AT was observed to occur from the 5th month while AspAt activity developed a rhythm from the 12th month. The acrophase for AspAt was reported at midnight.
- The cortisol level displayed a diurnal rhythm from the second month of a foal’s life, with the acrophase occurring at 8:30 am. This development is earlier than the enzymatic activities.
Conclusion
- The study suggests that the development of diurnal rhythms in metabolic parameters signifies physiological maturity in foals.
- It is also indicative of the potential influence of time-of-day effect on metabolic activities in foals.
- Further research is necessary to understand the broader implications of these findings on foal health and development.
Cite This Article
APA
Komosa M, Flisinska-Bojanowska A, Gill J.
(1990).
Development of diurnal rhythm in some metabolic parameters in foals.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol, 95(4), 549-552.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-9629(90)90737-d Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Vertebrate Animal Physiology, University of Warsaw, Poland.
MeSH Terms
- Alanine Transaminase / blood
- Animals
- Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
- Circadian Rhythm
- Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase / blood
- Horses / blood
- Horses / growth & development
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Thyroxine / blood
- Triiodothyronine / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Boujard T, Leatherland JF. Circadian pattern of hepatosomatic index, liver glycogen and lipid content, plasma non-esterified fatty acid, glucose, T3, T 4, growth hormone and cortisol concentrations in Oncorhynchus mykiss held under different photoperiod regimes and fed using demand-feeders. Fish Physiol Biochem 1992 Aug;10(2):111-22.
- Stoeckle SD, Stage HJ, Gehlen H. Thyroid Disease in Horses-Retrospective Case Series on Patients Examined for Thyroid Disease in an Equine University Clinic (2009-2024). Vet Sci 2025 Nov 27;12(12).
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