Effects of sexual stimulation, with and without ejaculation, on serum concentrations of LH, FSH, testosterone, cortisol and prolactin in stallions.
Abstract: Six lighthorse stallions with previous sexual experience were used to determine the short-term effects of sexual stimulation (SS; 5 min exposure to an estrous mare), SS plus ejaculation (SSE), and no stimulation (control) on serum concentrations of LH, FSH, testosterone, cortisol and prolactin. Stallions received one treatment per day on d 1, 4 and 7. Treatments were assigned such that each stallion 1) received each treatment once and 2) experienced a unique sequence of treatments. Neither SS nor SSE had any consistent effects on LH or FSH concentrations. Testosterone concentrations during control bleedings increased (P less than .05) with time. This increase was suppressed (P less than .05) by both SS and SSE. Cortisol concentrations increased (P less than .05) immediately after SS and SSE. Cortisol concentrations also tended to increase during the control bleedings, but only in stallions that previously had been exposed to SS or SSE. Prolactin concentrations increased (P less than .05) immediately after SS and SSE and tended to rise during control bleedings in stallions previously exposed to SS or SSE. We conclude that 1) prolactin and cortisol were secreted rapidly in response to SS and SSE, 2) the rise in cortisol concentrations likely suppressed testosterone secretion within the next hour, and 3) stallions appeared to associate the distant sounds of other stallions with their own previous exposure to SS and SSE, resulting in a cortisol response (and perhaps a prolactin response) even in the absence of direct stimulation.
Publication Date: 1989-10-01 PubMed ID: 2509408DOI: 10.2527/jas1989.67102724xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explores how sexual stimulation, with or without ejaculation, impacts the levels of certain hormones in stallions. The study found that sexual activity influences the concentration of testosterone, cortisol, and prolactin in stallions, but not LH and FSH, and even highlighted the role of cortisol in suppressing testosterone secretion.
Research Design and Methodology
- The study selected six experienced lighthorse stallions to examine the short-term effects of sexual stimulation. This was achieved by exposing them to an estrous mare for 5 minutes (SS), SS plus ejaculation (SSE), and no stimulation (the control group).
- The stallions subjected to one treatment per day on the 1st, 4th, and 7th days. Researchers ensured that each stallion received every treatment once and experienced a unique sequence of treatments.
Results and Findings
- The levels of LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) did not show any consistent effects from either sexual stimulation or ejaculation.
- Testosterone levels increased over time in the control group (those without any sexual stimulation). However, both sexual stimulation and ejaculation suppressed this increase in testosterone levels.
- Cortisol levels showed an immediate increase after sexual stimulation, with and without ejaculation. Stallions that had previously been exposed to sexual stimulation also showed a trend of increased cortisol levels even in the absence of direct stimulation.
- Similar to cortisol, prolactin levels also showed an immediate increase after sexual stimulation and ejaculation. Prolactin also showed a tendency to increase in stallions previously exposed to sexual stimulation, even in the absence of direct sexual cues.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that prolactin and cortisol are rapidly secreted in response to sexual stimulation and ejaculation.
- The increase in cortisol levels seems to suppress testosterone secretion within the next hour after sexual activity.
- The study also found that stallions appeared to associate the distant sounds of other stallions with their previous exposure to sexual stimulation and ejaculation, resulting in cortisol and possibly prolactin responses, even without direct stimulation.
Cite This Article
APA
Rabb MH, Thompson DL, Barry BE, Colborn DR, Garza F, Hehnke KE.
(1989).
Effects of sexual stimulation, with and without ejaculation, on serum concentrations of LH, FSH, testosterone, cortisol and prolactin in stallions.
J Anim Sci, 67(10), 2724-2729.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1989.67102724x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Louisiana State University, Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Ejaculation
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
- Hormones / blood
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Hydrocortisone / blood
- Luteinizing Hormone / blood
- Male
- Pheromones
- Prolactin / blood
- Sex Attractants
- Testosterone / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Khnissi S, Bomboi G, Khémiri I, Salem IB, Dattena M, Sai S, Mustapha SB, Cabiddu A, Lassoued N. Incorporation of fresh leaves of wormwood (Artemisia herba alba) and/or rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in the diet of rams: Effect on testicular function, sexual behavior, and blood parameters. Food Sci Nutr 2023 Jun;11(6):3121-3130.
- Górecka-Bruzda A, Jaworska J, Stanley CR. The Social and Reproductive Challenges Faced by Free-Roaming Horse (Equus caballus) Stallions. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 24;13(7).
- Alwaal A, Breyer BN, Lue TF. Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation. Fertil Steril 2015 Nov;104(5):1051-60.
- Corona G, Jannini EA, Vignozzi L, Rastrelli G, Maggi M. The hormonal control of ejaculation. Nat Rev Urol 2012 Sep;9(9):508-19.
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