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Home / Equine Research Bank / Domest Anim Endocrinol / Effects of season, age, sex, and housing on salivary cortiso...
Domestic animal endocrinology2015; 52; 11-16; doi: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2015.01.003

Effects of season, age, sex, and housing on salivary cortisol concentrations in horses.

Abstract: Analysis of salivary cortisol is increasingly used to assess stress responses in horses. Because spontaneous or experimentally induced increases in cortisol concentrations are often relatively small for stress studies, proper controls are needed. This requires an understanding of the factors affecting salivary cortisol over longer times. In this study, we have analyzed salivary cortisol concentration for 6 mo in horses (n = 94) differing in age, sex, reproductive state, and housing. Salivary cortisol followed a diurnal rhythm with the highest concentrations in the morning and a decrease throughout the day (P < 0.001). This rhythm was disrupted in individual groups on individual days; however, alterations remained within the range of diurnal changes. Comparison between months showed highest cortisol concentrations in December (P < 0.001). Cortisol concentrations increased in breeding stallions during the breeding season (P < 0.001). No differences in salivary cortisol concentrations between nonpregnant mares with and without a corpus luteum existed. In stallions, mean daily salivary cortisol and plasma testosterone concentrations were weakly correlated (r = 0.251, P < 0.01). No differences in salivary cortisol between female and male young horses and no consistent differences between horses of different age existed. Group housing and individual stabling did not affect salivary cortisol. In conclusion, salivary cortisol concentrations in horses follow a diurnal rhythm and are increased in active breeding sires. Time of the day and reproductive state of the horses are thus important for experiments that include analysis of cortisol in saliva.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2015-01-21 PubMed ID: 25700267DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2015.01.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research paper studies the effects of different factors such as season, age, sex, and housing conditions on salivary cortisol levels in horses. It finds that these levels follow a diurnal rhythm, are highest in December, increase in stallions during breeding season but are not correlated with age, sex or housing conditions.

Objective and Methodology

  • This study was conducted to understand the factors affecting the salivary cortisol levels in horses. The researchers analyzed the salivary cortisol concentration over a period of 6 months in 94 horses.
  • The horses were selected keeping in mind the variation in age, sex, reproductive state, and housing. The cortisol levels were analyzed at different times of the day and different months to understand its diurnal rhythm and seasonal changes.

Results

  • The researchers found that the salivary cortisol levels in horses follow a diurnal rhythm, showing highest concentrations in the morning, decreasing gradually throughout the day.
  • The cortisol concentrations reached their peak in December and showed an increase in breeding stallions during the breeding season.
  • No significant difference was observed in the cortisol levels between nonpregnant mares with and without a corpus luteum, or between young female and male horses, indicating that the sex of the horse does not significantly affect cortisol levels.
  • Similarly, there were no consistent differences observed between horses of different ages. This shows that age does not affect cortisol levels in a significant way.
  • Also, housing conditions, whether group housing or individual stabling, did not significantly affect cortisol levels.
  • It was also observed that there was a weak correlation between daily salivary cortisol and plasma testosterone concentrations in stallions.

Implications of the Study

  • This research provides an understanding of the factors that affect cortisol levels in horses, which in turn can help in assessing stress responses in horses.
  • Cortisol responses are a crucial parameter for behavioral and physiological studies in horses, especially stress studies. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the cortisol variation is essential for experimental design and interpretation of results.

Cite This Article

APA
Aurich J, Wulf M, Ille N, Erber R, von Lewinski M, Palme R, Aurich C. (2015). Effects of season, age, sex, and housing on salivary cortisol concentrations in horses. Domest Anim Endocrinol, 52, 11-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2015.01.003

Publication

Domestic animal endocrinology
ISSN: 1879-0054
NlmUniqueID: 8505191
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Pages: 11-16
PII: S0739-7240(15)00004-1

Researcher Affiliations

Aurich, J
  • Division for Obstetrics and Reproduction, University of Veterinary Sciences, Vienna 1210, Austria. Electronic address: joerg.aurich@vetmeduni.ac.at.
Wulf, M
  • Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, Neustadt (Dosse) 16845, Germany.
Ille, N
  • Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University of Veterinary Sciences, Vienna 1210, Austria.
Erber, R
  • Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University of Veterinary Sciences, Vienna 1210, Austria.
von Lewinski, M
  • Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, Neustadt (Dosse) 16845, Germany.
Palme, R
  • Institute for Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Sciences, Vienna 1210, Austria.
Aurich, C
  • Centre for Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, University of Veterinary Sciences, Vienna 1210, Austria.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Circadian Rhythm
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Housing, Animal
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Reproduction / physiology
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Seasons
  • Sex Factors
  • Testosterone / blood

Citations

This article has been cited 23 times.
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