Effects of short-term stress, xylazine tranquilization and anesthetization with xylazine plus ketamine on plasma concentrations of cortisol, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin in ovariectomized pony mares.
Abstract: Long-term ovariectomized pony mares were subjected to one of four treatments: 1) control group - no treatment, 2) stressed group - 5 min of restraint via a twitch, 3) tranquilized group - administered xylazine (1.1 mg i.v. per kg of body weight), and 4) anesthetized group - administered xylazine followed 2 min later by ketamine (2.2 mg i.v. per kg of body weight). Blood samples were taken at -40, -30, -20, -10, -0.5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 90 min and at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h relative to onset of treatment. Stress increased (P<0.05) cortisol concentrations 20 to 50 min after treatment and again at 6 and 8 h. Tranquilization had no effect on cortisol concentrations, whereas anesthetization increased (P0.1) relative to pretreatment in any group of mares. Concentrations of prolactin were 2.7-fold higher (P<0.05) 24 h after treatment in all four groups, indicating some procedural or environmental influence on prolactin secretion. There was a transient increase (P<0.06) in prolactin concentrations in anesthetized mares 30 min after treatment. Although two of these three commonly used methods of restraint did affect cortisol concentrations, there was no effect on plasma concentrations of LH or FSH. Thus, we conclude that such methods of restraint can be used in short-term situations without disturbing estimates of LH and FSH secretion. However, when prolactin concentrations are to be measured, anesthesia with ketamine should not be used.
Publication Date: 1988-01-01 PubMed ID: 16726536DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(88)80056-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research examines the impact of stress, tranquilization, and anesthesia on hormone levels in ovariectomized pony mares. It concludes that while these conditions can affect cortisol levels, they do not generally impact concentrations of luteinizing hormone or follicle-stimulating hormone. However, anesthesia may not be suitable when measuring prolactin levels.
Methodology
- The sample consisted of long-term ovariectomized pony mares, divided into four groups: the control group which received no treatment, the stressed group subjected to 5 min of restraint via a twitch, the tranquilized group administered with xylazine (1.1 mg i.v. per kg of body weight), and the anesthetized group that was first tranquilized with xylazine and then anesthetized with ketamine (2.2 mg i.v. per kg of body weight) after two minutes.
- Blood samples were drawn at specific time intervals before and after the onset of the treatments to measure cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and prolactin concentrations.
Findings
- The stress treatment heightened cortisol levels 20 to 50 minutes after treatment and again after six and eight hours.
- Tranquilization did not impact cortisol levels, but anesthesia did increase cortisol levels from 90 minutes to eight hours post-treatment.
- The treatments did not significantly alter the concentrations of LH and FSH in any of the groups.
- All four groups exhibited a 2.7-fold increase in prolactin levels 24 hours after treatment, suggesting some procedural or environmental influence on prolactin secretion. Anesthetized mares also saw a brief rise in prolactin levels 30 minutes after treatment.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that, while these restraint methods can affect cortisol concentrations, they do not impact the plasma concentrations of LH or FSH. Therefore, for short-term situations, such methods can be implemented without disturbing LH and FSH secretion estimations.
- The study also warns against the use of anesthesia with ketamine when intending to measure prolactin concentrations as it can lead to increased levels.
Cite This Article
APA
Thompson DL, Garza F, Mitchell PS, St George RL.
(1988).
Effects of short-term stress, xylazine tranquilization and anesthetization with xylazine plus ketamine on plasma concentrations of cortisol, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and prolactin in ovariectomized pony mares.
Theriogenology, 30(5), 937-946.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(88)80056-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Vaillancourt SJ, Allen JC. Glucocorticoid effects on zinc transport into colostrum and milk of lactating cows. Biol Trace Elem Res 1991 Aug;30(2):185-96.
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