Mating behavior increases workload of the heart in Thoroughbred stallions.
Abstract: To evaluate the influence of mating behavior on cardiac function, changes in heart rate (HR), electrocardiogram (ECG), hematocrit (Hct) and serum concentration of alpha-atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-ANP) were evaluated in 10 clinically sound Thoroughbred stallions before and after mating behavior. The stallions were submitted twice to experimental pseudomating in the same month in 2009 and 2010. Measurements and blood samples were collected at a stable before mating (baseline) and at a covering yard before and after mating. ECG was recorded by a Holter-ECG system. Arrhythmias were detected in 5 stallions before or after mating behavior. Minimum HR (HRmin), maximum HR (HRmax) and HR recorded when the stallions entered into yard (HRent) and ejaculated (HRejc) were 34.2 ± 3.7, 168.9 ± 14.2, 141.8 ± 35.3 and 142.6 ± 27.3 beats/min, respectively. Time from entrance into the yard to ejaculation (mating time; MT) ranged from 30 to 2,103 sec and was highly correlated with HRent (r=-0.82) and the time required for attaining HRmax after entrance into the yard (dT HRmax) (r=0.87). Hct and serum alpha-ANP concentration significantly increased after ejaculation (60.0 ± 3.2%, P<0.0001, and 1.54 ± 0.61 ng/ml, P=0.0353) compared with the baselines values (46.9 ± 4.4%, 1.40 ± 0.60 ng/ml). HRent and Hct were significantly higher in the stallions with an MT of less than 5 min (n=5) compared with those (n=5) with an MT of more than 5 min (P=0.0324 and P=0.0082). Mating behavior increases the workload of the heart in Thoroughbred stallions.
Publication Date: 2011-11-25 PubMed ID: 22123303DOI: 10.1292/jvms.11-0360Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study demonstrates that mating behavior in Thoroughbred stallions leads to a noticeable increase in heart activity, highlighting a higher workload for the heart as measured by various cardiac and blood indicators.
Research Methodology
- The study involved 10 clinically sound Thoroughbred stallions which were subjected to experimental pseudomating two times within the same month in the years 2009 and 2010.
- Data was collected in a stable prior to mating (establishing the baseline values) and at a covering yard before and subsequent to mating.
- The electrocardiogram (ECG) of the stallions was recorded using a Holter-ECG system.
- Other parameters such as heart rate (HR), hematocrit (Hct – the measure of the volume percentage of red blood cells in the blood) and serum concentration of alpha-atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-ANP – a hormone that helps regulate blood volume and pressure) were also monitored and evaluated before and after mating behavior.
Key Findings
- Heart rate variations were observed, with minimum HR (HRmin), maximum HR (HRmax), HR recorded when the stallions entered the yard (HRent), and HR at ejaculation (HRejc) showing distinct values.
- Five stallions were found to have arrhythmias either before or after the mating behavior.
- The duration from the stallions’ entrance into the yard to ejaculation (referred to as mating time or MT), ranged substantially from 30 seconds to 2103 seconds. It was observed to be highly correlated with HRent and the time taken to reach HRmax after entering the yard.
- Hct and serum alpha-ANP concentrations showed a significant rise post-ejaculation compared to baseline values.
- Stallions with an MT of less than 5 minutes exhibited significantly higher HRent and Hct compared to those with an MT exceeding 5 minutes.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that mating behavior in Thoroughbred stallions leads to an elevated workload on their hearts. This conclusion is drawn from several measures including changes in heart rate, hematocrit levels, serum alpha-ANP concentration, and the observed arrhythmias in some stallions.
Cite This Article
APA
Hatazoe T, Kubota C, Fujiki M, Misumi K.
(2011).
Mating behavior increases workload of the heart in Thoroughbred stallions.
J Vet Med Sci, 74(4), 423-428.
https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.11-0360 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Kyushu Stallion Station, The Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association, Kagoshima 899-8313, Japan. hatazoe@jbba.jp
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac / physiopathology
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
- Atrial Natriuretic Factor / blood
- Electrocardiography / veterinary
- Heart / physiology
- Heart Rate / physiology
- Hematocrit / veterinary
- Horses / physiology
- Humans
- Male
- Regression Analysis
- Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Orihuela JC, Pinto-Santini L, Beracochea F, Giriboni J, Viera MN, Silveira P, Ungerfeld R. Time of day modified the time required for semen collection with electroejaculation and slightly affected the quality of fresh semen in rams.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2023 Apr 5;55(3):144.
- Hiraga A, Sugano S. History of research in Japan on electrocardiography in the racehorse.. J Equine Sci 2015;26(1):1-13.
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