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Effects of season and sample handling on measurement of plasma alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone concentrations in horses and ponies.
Abstract: To investigate effects of sample handling, storage, and collection time and season on plasma alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) concentration in healthy equids. Methods: 11 healthy Standardbreds and 13 healthy semiferal ponies. Methods: Plasma alpha-MSH concentration was measured by use of radioimmunoassay. Effects of delayed processing were accessed by comparing alpha-MSH concentrations in plasma immediately separated with that of plasma obtained from blood samples that were stored at 4 degrees C for 8 or 48 hours before plasma was separated. Effects of suboptimal handling were accessed by comparing alpha-MSH concentrations in plasma immediately stored at -80 degrees C with plasma that was stored at 25 degrees C for 24 hours, 4 degrees C for 48 hours or 7 days, and -20 degrees C for 30 days prior to freezing at -80 degrees C. Plasma alpha-MSH concentrations were compared among blood samples collected at 8:00 AM, 12 noon, and 4:00 PM. Plasma alpha-MSH concentrations were compared among blood samples collected in January, March, April, June, September, and November from horses and in September and May from ponies. Results: Storage of blood samples at 4 degrees C for 48 hours before plasma was separated and storage of plasma samples at 4 degrees C for 7 days prior to freezing at -80 degrees C resulted in significant decreases in plasma alpha-MSH concentrations. A significantly greater plasma alpha-MSH concentration was found in September in ponies (11-fold) and horses (2-fold), compared with plasma alpha-MSH concentrations in spring. Conclusions: Handling and storage conditions minimally affected plasma alpha-MSH concentrations. Seasonal variation in plasma alpha-MSH concentrations must be considered when evaluating pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in equids.
Publication Date: 2004-11-30 PubMed ID: 15566081DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1463Google 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.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates how plasma alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) concentrations in horses and ponies might be affected by factors such as sample handling, storage, collection time, and the season in which the sample was taken.
Research Methods
- The study was conducted with 11 healthy Standardbreds and 13 healthy semi-feral ponies.
- The plasma alpha-MSH concentrations were measured using radioimmunoassay, a scientific method used to test hormone concentrations.
- To understand the effect of delayed sample processing, the researchers compared alpha-MSH concentrations in plasma that were immediately separated with the plasma obtained from blood samples stored at 4 degrees C for 8 or 48 hours before separating the plasma.
- The study further tested the effects of suboptimal handling by comparing plasma immediately stored at -80 degrees C with plasma stored at different conditions such as 25 degrees C for 24 hours, 4 degrees C for 48 hours or 7 days, and -20 degrees C for 30 days prior to freezing at -80 degrees C.
- To study the effects of time and season, the researchers compared the plasma alpha-MSH concentrations among blood samples collected at different times (8:00 AM, 12 noon, and 4:00 PM) and during different months (January, March, April, June, September, and November for horses and September and May for ponies).
Research Findings
- The study found that storage of blood samples at 4 degrees C for 48 hours before separating the plasma and storage of plasma samples at 4 degrees C for 7 days prior to freezing at -80 degrees C significantly decreased the plasma alpha-MSH concentrations.
- The study also found a significant seasonal effect, with a higher concentration of plasma alpha-MSH found in September in both ponies and horses, compared to the concentrations in spring.
Conclusion
- Although the handling and storage conditions had a minimal effect on plasma alpha-MSH concentrations, there was a significant seasonal variation.
- The researchers conclude that this seasonal variation must be taken into consideration when evaluating pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (a common hormonal disorder in mature horses) in horses and ponies.
Cite This Article
APA
McFarlane D, Donaldson MT, McDonnell SM, Cribb AE.
(2004).
Effects of season and sample handling on measurement of plasma alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone concentrations in horses and ponies.
Am J Vet Res, 65(11), 1463-1468.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2004.65.1463 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PEI, Canada C1A 4P3.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Horses / blood
- Radioimmunoassay
- Seasons
- Specimen Handling
- Time Factors
- alpha-MSH / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- DeNotta S, McFarlane D. Immunosenescence and inflammaging in the aged horse. Immun Ageing 2023 Jan 6;20(1):2.
- Kirkwood NC, Hughes KJ, Stewart AJ. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) in Horses. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 10;9(10).
- Żak A, Siwińska N, Chełmecka E, Bażanów B, Romuk E, Adams A, Niedźwiedź A, Stygar D. Effects of Advanced Age, Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction and Insulin Dysregulation on Serum Antioxidant Markers in Horses. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020 May 21;9(5).
- Hu K, Stewart AJ, Yuen KY, Hinrichsen S, Dryburgh EL, Bertin FR. The effect of freeze-thaw cycles on determination of immunoreactive plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone concentrations in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2020 May;34(3):1350-1356.
- Spelta CW. Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current perspectives on diagnosis and management. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:293-300.
- Selim S, Elo K, Jaakkola S, Karikoski N, Boston R, Reilas T, Särkijärvi S, Saastamoinen M, Kokkonen T. Relationships among Body Condition, Insulin Resistance and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Gene Expression during the Grazing Season in Mares. PLoS One 2015;10(5):e0125968.
- Vaughn SA, Lemons MB, Hart KA. The Effect of Season and Breed on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Hormones, Metabolic Hormones, and Oxidative Markers in Ponies and Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70047.
- Sundra T, Kelty E, Rossi G, Rendle D. Retrospective assessment of the use of extended-release cabergoline in the management of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1332337.
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