Plasma melatonin concentration during the early post-partum period in Thoroughbred mares and their foals.
Abstract: The authors aimed to determine the plasma melatonin concentration in mares and their new-born foals in the early post-partum period. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 53 mare-foal pairs within twelve hours after parturition. Plasma melatonin levels were measured by ELISA. The melatonin concentration, adjusted for the moment of parturition using a generalised linear model, was 34.58 pg mL-1 in mares. It was significantly lower (27.63 pg mL-1) in the new-born foals. However, the melatonin concentration declined differently by the end of the twelve hours, it decreased less in the offspring than in the mothers. An artificial light supplementation at the end of gestation reduced the melatonin concentration both in mares and their foals by about 10 pg mL-1, compared to the controls. An elevated melatonin production may be related to preparation of mares for parturition and ensures the chances of survival of offspring, therefore the melatonin may reach its peak at the moment of foaling regardless of its actual time. The effect of low melatonin concentration in new-born foals might be associated with the foal's health and subsequent performance. The need to monitor the melatonin concentration in the offspring justifies further studies.
Publication Date: 2023-09-06 PubMed ID: 37676787DOI: 10.1556/004.2023.00883Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research investigates the concentrations of melatonin in the blood plasma of Thoroughbred mares and their newborn foals in the early post-partum period. The study finds that melatonin concentration, which is known to play a crucial role in birth preparation and offspring survival, is significantly lower in newborn foals than in their mothers and that this concentration declines differently between the two by the end of twelve hours.
Research Methodology
- The researchers involved 53 mare-foal pairs in the study and extracted blood samples from their jugular vein within twelve hours after birth.
- They measured the plasma melatonin levels in these samples using a method known as ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), a plate-based assay technique designed for detecting and quantifying substances such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, and hormones.
- They then adjusted the concentration of melatonin for the moment of parturition using a statistical tool called generalized linear model.
Key Findings
- They found the melatonin concentration to be 34.58 pg mL-1 in mares, while in newborn foals, it was significantly lower at 27.63 pg mL-1. This suggests that the production of melatonin might be elevated in the mares in preparation for birth.
- Interestingly, they observed that the melatonin concentration declined differently by the end of the twelve hours – it decreased less in the offspring than in the mothers.
- Additionally, when the mare was given artificial light supplementation at the end of gestation, the melatonin concentration in both the mares and their foals decreased by about 10 pg mL-1.
Implications and Future Directions
- This study indicates that the lower melatonin concentration in newborn foals might have an impact on the foal’s health and subsequent performance. Also, melatonin production may peak at the moment of foaling regardless of its actual timing, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the chances of survival of offspring.
- Given these findings, the researchers stress the need for further studies to monitor the melatonin concentration in the offspring.
Cite This Article
APA
Gáspárdy A, Gallagher G, Bartha B, Cseh S, Fekete SG, Somoskői B.
(2023).
Plasma melatonin concentration during the early post-partum period in Thoroughbred mares and their foals.
Acta Vet Hung, 71(2), 119-127.
https://doi.org/10.1556/004.2023.00883 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István street 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
- 1Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István street 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
- 3Village Vets Stillorgan, Glenalybn Road, Stillorgan, A94 YW54 Dublin, Ireland.
- 1Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István street 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
- 4Profivet Veterinary Surgery Center and Clinic, Berzsenyi Dániel street 2, 2131 Göd, Hungary.
- 2Department of Obstetrics and Food Animal Medicine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István street 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
- 1Institute for Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István street 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
- 2Department of Obstetrics and Food Animal Medicine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, István street 2, 1078 Budapest, Hungary.
MeSH Terms
- Pregnancy
- Animals
- Horses
- Female
- Melatonin
- Postpartum Period
- Parturition
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