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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2012; 194(1); 131-132; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.04.006

Hair cortisol level as a retrospective marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in horse foals.

Abstract: Stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and elevated cortisol concentrations in fetal plasma are associated with foal maturity, viability and adaptation to independent life. However, non-invasive measurement of cortisol in hair samples has not yet been validated in horses. The current study developed a radioimmunoassay to analyse cortisol in horse hair and was used to measure cortisol hair concentration at birth and at 30 and 60 days of age as a retrospective study of HPA axis activity. Cortisol was detectable in the hair of foals from birth until 2 months, but decreased with time and varied greatly between individuals. Analysis of hair cortisol could be useful for non-invasive retrospective studies of HPA axis activity in perinatal horse.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2012-05-23 PubMed ID: 22633175DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.04.006Google 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.

This research article is about a study that developed a way to measure cortisol levels in horse foals’ hair, which can serve as a non-invasive method to examine the HPA axis activity related to foals’ maturity and adaptation to independent life.

Background of the Study

  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in physiology has been found to be associated with the maturity and viability of an animal. Fetal horse foals, in particular, whose HPA axis gets stimulated, show elevated cortisol levels, which can translate to better maturity and adaptation to independent life. Such an adaptation is crucial for a neonate’s transition from the womb’s controlled conditions to the outside world’s unpredictable environment.
  • Till now, non-invasive measurements of cortisol, a hormone that serves as a marker of stress and therefore of the HPA axis stimulation, have not been validated in horses. However, assessing such levels could provide insight into the activity of the HPA axis during the perinatal period.

Purpose and Methodology

  • The researchers embarked on this current study to develop a non-invasive mechanism that can measure cortisol levels in horse hair. For this purpose, they created a radioimmunoassay – a scientific method used to test antigens (like hormones) within a sample.
  • The developed method was used to measure cortisol hair concentration in foal at three points: immediately after birth, and then at 30 and 60 days old. This created a retrospective timeline for studying HPA axis activity during this crucial period.

Findings

  • The study found that cortisol could be successfully detected in the hair of horse foals from their birth until they turn two months old. This period serves as the critical window to study HPA axis activity.
  • The detected levels of cortisol were noted to decrease over time, indicating the declining stress levels, and varied greatly from individual to individual, suggesting a subject-specific stress response.

Conclusion

  • The developed method of analysing cortisol in horse hair shows potential as a valuable, non-invasive tool for conducting retrospective studies on HPA axis activity in the perinatal period of horses. Such studies can contribute to optimizing neonatal horse care, thereby increasing survival rates.

Cite This Article

APA
Comin A, Veronesi MC, Montillo M, Faustini M, Valentini S, Cairoli F, Prandi A. (2012). Hair cortisol level as a retrospective marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in horse foals. Vet J, 194(1), 131-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.04.006

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 194
Issue: 1
Pages: 131-132
PII: S1090-0233(12)00161-X

Researcher Affiliations

Comin, Antonella
  • Department of Food Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
Veronesi, Maria C
    Montillo, Marta
      Faustini, Massimo
        Valentini, Silvia
          Cairoli, Fausto
            Prandi, Alberto

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Animals, Newborn / physiology
              • Female
              • Hair / chemistry
              • Horses / physiology
              • Hydrocortisone / chemistry
              • Hydrocortisone / metabolism
              • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
              • Male
              • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology

              Citations

              This article has been cited 22 times.
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