Oxytocin release and its relationship to dihydro-15-keto PGF2alpha and arginine vasopressin release during parturition and to suckling in postpartum mares.
Abstract: Pituitary blood was collected from the intercavernal sinus in five mares before and during parturition, and in nine mares immediately after parturition to investigate oxytocin patterns during parturition and early lactation, and to determine the relationship between oxytocin, prostaglandin and arginine vasopressin during parturition. In four mares in which sample collection began at least 6 h before rupture of the chorioallantois, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in PGF(2alpha) concentration was detected before a significant increase in oxytocin concentration. Cross-correlation analysis of log-transformed oxytocin and PGF(2alpha) concentrations revealed a significant correlation (P < 0.05) at a 6 min lag period, indicating that in the 2 h before delivery of the foal, an increase in prostaglandin was followed 6 min later by an increase in oxytocin. A significant effect of suckling on oxytocin release by the mare was detected in only two of nine mares, when oxytocin concentrations were evaluated 0-3 min after suckling. When foals were prevented from sucking for 1 h, by being either muzzled (n = 2) or separated from the mare (n = 2), there was no significant association between resumption of suckling and oxytocin release by the mare. The results of these studies show that: (i) oxytocin secretion from the maternal posterior pituitary gland begins before, or in association with, the onset of the second stage of labour, and that prostaglandin increases in the peripheral circulation before oxytocin release; and (ii) suckling is not significantly related to oxytocin release in mares.
Publication Date: 2000-06-24 PubMed ID: 10864848
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the patterns of oxytocin release in mares during childbirth and early lactation, and its relationship with the release of prostaglandin and arginine vasopressin hormones. It finds that an increase in oxytocin follows an increase in prostaglandin before the delivery of the foal, and that there is no significant relationship between suckling and oxytocin release in mares.
Objective and Testing Methodology
- The aim of this research was to understand how the hormone oxytocin behaves during horse parturition (the process of giving birth) and early lactation. It also aimed to discern the relationship between the release of oxytocin, prostaglandin (involved in inducing labor) and arginine vasopressin (a hormone that can crucially affect blood pressure) during the birthing process.
- The blood was collected from the pituitary body of five mares before and during childbirth, and from nine mares immediately after childbirth to examine oxytocin patterns.
- In four mares, sample collection began 6 hours before the rupture of the chorioallantois (a membrane surrounding the fetus).
- Cross-correlation analysis was applied on the log-transformed oxytocin and PGF(2alpha) concentrations to establish their relationship.
- The effect of suckling on oxytocin release was also evaluated.
Major Findings
- The research established a significant increase in the concentration of PGF(2alpha) before a significant rise in oxytocin levels.
- The study also identified a significant correlation between prostaglandin and oxytocin levels, where an increase in prostaglandin was followed 6 minutes later by an increase in oxytocin within 2 hours before the foal’s delivery.
- The results also showed that suckling doesn’t have any significant impact on the release of oxytocin in mares.
- The research concludes two major points: firstly, oxytocin secretion from the maternal posterior pituitary gland starts before or in association with the second stage of labor, starting after an increase in prostaglandin in the circulatory system. Secondly, suckling doesn’t significantly contribute to oxytocin release in mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Vivrette SL, Kindahl H, Munro CJ, Roser JF, Stabenfeldt GH.
(2000).
Oxytocin release and its relationship to dihydro-15-keto PGF2alpha and arginine vasopressin release during parturition and to suckling in postpartum mares.
J Reprod Fertil, 119(2), 347-357.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arginine Vasopressin / blood
- Arginine Vasopressin / metabolism
- Dinoprost / analogs & derivatives
- Dinoprost / blood
- Dinoprost / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Labor, Obstetric / physiology
- Lactation / physiology
- Oxytocin / blood
- Oxytocin / metabolism
- Pituitary Gland / metabolism
- Pregnancy
- Radioimmunoassay
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Scarlet D, Malama E, Fischer S, Knutti B, Bollwein H. Relationship between Clinical Uterine Findings, Therapy, and Fertility in the Mare. Vet Sci 2023 Mar 29;10(4).
- Moscovice LR, Sobczak B, Niittynen T, Koski SE, Gimsa U. Changes in salivary oxytocin in response to biologically-relevant events in farm animals: method optimization and usefulness as a biomarker. Front Physiol 2024;15:1370557.
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