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Home / Equine Research Bank / Anim Reprod Sci / Effects of reproductive status and management on cortisol se...
Animal reproduction science2006; 102(3-4); 276-285; doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.11.009

Effects of reproductive status and management on cortisol secretion and fertility of oestrous horse mares.

Abstract: Stressful events may contribute to low reproductive efficiency due to glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of hormone secretion in a variety of species. We therefore investigated effects of stress related to management of mares around artificial insemination on secretion of cortisol and fertility parameters. To avoid further disturbance of mares by frequent blood sampling, faecal cortisol metabolites (fCM) were determined instead (sample collection at 8-h intervals). A total of 50 mares (16 maiden, 17 barren, 12 foaling, 5 teaching mares) were included in the study. Mares were brought to the AI centre in vans or trailers (driving time between 30 min and 5 h). Teaching mares were housed in the clinic and had therefore not to be transported. Mares were inseminated either with fresh/cooled-shipped or frozen semen. Rectal palpations and ultrasound examinations were performed at 24- to 48-h intervals, in animals inseminated with frozen semen at 6-h intervals during the last 48 h before ovulation. In maiden, barren and foaling mares, fCM concentrations in faeces tended to be higher than in teaching mares at all times after arrival at the AI centre. At 24 and 48 h after arrival, fCM concentrations in maiden mares were significantly higher than in teaching mares (24h: maiden mares 12.3+/-3.1 ng/g, barren mares 8.5+/-1.2 ng/g, foaling mares 11.0+/-2.4 ng/g, teaching mares 3.8+/-0.6 ng/g, p<0.05). The time from arrival at the AI centre to detection of ovulation did not differ among the different groups of mares and was 4.5+/-0.4, 5.0+/-0.5, 3.8+/-0.5 and 5.6+/-0.9 days in maiden, barren, foaling and teaching mares, respectively (n.s.). Pregnancy rates were 53, 53, 55 and 60%, respectively (n.s.). The time from arrival at the AI centre to detection of ovulation was 4.4+/-0.3 days and 4.9+/-0.3 days in mares inseminated with fresh/shipped (n=39) or frozen semen (n=11; n.s.), respectively. The frequency of follicular checks influenced fCM secretion and was statistically significant at 16 h before ovulation (fresh/shipped semen: fCM 6.9+/-0.7 ng/g faeces, frozen semen: fCM 16.9+/-5.2 ng/g faeces, p<0.01). In the mare, gynaecological examinations seem to act as stressors and may increase cortisol secretion. However, this does not negatively influence fertility and in animals familiar with that procedure fCM concentrations are not elevated.
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Publication Date: 2006-11-19 PubMed ID: 17169515DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.11.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research studied the impact of stress on the fertility of horse mares during artificial insemination process. Despite the fact that gynaecological examinations and travel stress increase cortisol secretion in mares, they did not affect the fertility of these mares.

Objective and Methodology

  • The objective of this study was to determine the impact of stress, related to the management of mares around the time of artificial insemination, on cortisol secretion and fertility parameters.
  • The researchers chose to measure faecal cortisol metabolites (fCM) because it was less stressful for the mares than frequent blood sampling. The fCM was gathered every eight hours.
  • The study involved a total of 50 mares of varying reproductive statuses: 16 maiden (never bred before), 17 barren (unable to bear offspring), 12 foaling, and 5 teaching mares (housed in the clinic and therefore not transported). The mares were transported to the artificial insemination (AI) centre by vans or trailers.

Findings

  • The results indicated that the stress induced by their transport and stay at the AI centre led to an increase in cortisol levels in the maiden, barren, and foaling mares, compared to the teaching mares. The latter were already acclimated to the procedures and environment, resulting in lower cortisol levels.
  • Despite the increased cortisol levels, there was no significant variation in the time from the mares’ arrival at the AI centre to ovulation detection among the different types of mares.
  • The pregnancy rates among the four types of mares was relatively similar, ranging from 53% to 60%, indicating that the increased cortisol levels did not significantly impact the mares’ fertility.
  • The study also observed that the frequency of follicular examinations influenced the fCM secretion and this was statistically significant during the 16 hours before ovulation.

Conclusion

  • The conclusion of the study suggests that, though gynaecological examinations can act as stressors and may increase cortisol secretion in mares, this doesn’t necessarily translate to a negative influence on fertility. In fact, animals that are familiar with the procedure didn’t demonstrate increased fCM concentrations.

Cite This Article

APA
Berghold P, Möstl E, Aurich C. (2006). Effects of reproductive status and management on cortisol secretion and fertility of oestrous horse mares. Anim Reprod Sci, 102(3-4), 276-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.11.009

Publication

Animal reproduction science
ISSN: 0378-4320
NlmUniqueID: 7807205
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 102
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 276-285

Researcher Affiliations

Berghold, Petra
  • Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Animal Breeding and Reproduction, University of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Möstl, Erich
    Aurich, Christine

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Cryopreservation
      • Estrus / physiology
      • Feces / chemistry
      • Female
      • Fertility
      • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
      • Horses / physiology
      • Hydrocortisone / analysis
      • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
      • Insemination, Artificial / methods
      • Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
      • Ovulation
      • Pregnancy
      • Reproduction / physiology
      • Semen Preservation / veterinary
      • Stress, Physiological / physiopathology
      • Stress, Physiological / veterinary

      Citations

      This article has been cited 12 times.
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