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Veterinary sciences2022; 9(11); 598; doi: 10.3390/vetsci9110598

Postnatal Dynamics of Circulating Steroid Hormones in Mule and Equine Neonates.

Abstract: It is necessary to study hormonal patterns from mules to recognize alterations and neonatal maladaptation. Our objective was to evaluate concentrations of hormones in mule (n = 6) and equine foals (n = 6). Blood was collected at T0, 1, 6 and 12 h after birth. Hormone concentrations were evaluated using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Effects of time, group and interactions and regression analysis were evaluated (p < 0.05). There was a cubic and quadratic decline in mule and equine foals, respectively, for 3β,20α-dihydroxy-DHP. Mule foals were born with lower circulating 3β,20α-dihydroxy-DHP concentrations, which might be related to progestogen concentrations in mares with a hybrid placenta. Corticosterone and cortisol concentrations remained unchanged for the first hour post-foaling then declined in mule and equine foals (p < 0.0001). Dehydroepiandrosterone was the main androgen present. There was a decrease in dihydrotestosterone at 12 h (p = 0.002). Differences in the temporal patterns of secretion within each steroid class, pregnanes, corticoids, and androgens, suggest they were derived from different tissue sources, presumptively the placenta, adrenals and gonads of the fetus/neonate, respectively. Mule and horse foals were born without evidence of testosterone secretion. For the first time, steroid hormone levels were measured in neonatal mules, and this will provide insight into neonatal physiology that differs from equine and allow us to gain an understanding of mules that have rarely been studied. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of hybrid pregnancies in the steroid endocrinology of neonates.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-28 PubMed ID: 36356075PubMed Central: PMC9696302DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9110598Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 studied the levels of steroid hormones in newborn mules compared to horse foals, to further understand any differences in the neonatal physiology of mules. This initial investigation will contribute valuable data on a less-examined species and may provide insights into the effects of hybrid pregnancies on neonatal hormone production.

Objective and Methodology

  • This research aimed to study and compare the hormonal patterns of mule and equine foals right after birth. The objective was to establish a baseline understanding of the mule’s neonatal physiology, as it has been lesser studied compared to horses.
  • Six mule and six equine foals participated in the study. The blood of these neonates was collected at different points of time – T0, 1, 6 and 12 hours after birth.
  • The hormone concentrations in the collected blood samples were measured using a method known as liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
  • Statistical analysis, like regression and effects of time, group and interactions, were conducted on the obtained hormone concentrations to draw meaningful interpretations from the data.

Results and Findings

  • 3β,20α-dihydroxy-DHP showed a cubic and quadratic decline in mule and equine foals respectively. Interestingly, mule foals had lower concentrations of this hormone at birth, hinting at a possible connection with the progestogen concentrations in mares with a hybrid placenta.
  • Levels of corticosterone and cortisol, the primary stress hormones, remained steady for the first hour after birth, before showing a drop in both mule and equine foals.
  • Among androgens, dehydroepiandrosterone was found in highest concentration. At 12 hours post-birth, there was a noticeable decrease in another androgen, dihydrotestosterone.
  • Both mule and horse foals were born without evidence of testosterone secretion. They detected differences in the temporal secretion patterns of different types of steroid hormones, which suggests they originate from various tissues, for example, the placenta, adrenal glands, and the foal’s gonads.

Conclusions and Implications

  • By exploring the postnatal dynamics of circulating steroid hormones in mule neonates, the study has added rare but essential data to understand the physiology of neonatal mules. The researcher suggests that this could help learn about how mule neonates adapt and develop post-birth.
  • The researchers recommend further studies to understand better the effects of hybrid pregnancies on the endocrinology of steroid hormones in neonates. This could also lead to enhanced neonatal care practices for hybrid species, including mules.

Cite This Article

APA
Boakari YL, Legacki E, Alonso MA, Dos Santos ACF, Nichi M, Conley AJ, Fernandes CB. (2022). Postnatal Dynamics of Circulating Steroid Hormones in Mule and Equine Neonates. Vet Sci, 9(11), 598. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9110598

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 11
PII: 598

Researcher Affiliations

Boakari, Yatta Linhares
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Legacki, Erin
  • Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Alonso, Maria Augusta
  • Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, Brazil.
Dos Santos, Ana Carolina Francisco
  • Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, Brazil.
Nichi, Marcilio
  • Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, Brazil.
Conley, Alan J
  • Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Fernandes, Claudia Barbosa
  • Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo 05508-270, Brazil.

Grant Funding

  • 001 / Coordenau00e7u00e3o de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nu00edvel Superior
  • 2017/05425-0 and 2020/10260-3 / Sao Paulo State Foundation

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Riccio AV, Costa BK, Alonso MA, Affonso FJ, França DS, Nichi M, Belli CB, McLean AK, Boakari YL, Fernandes CB. Comparative Assessment of Oxidative and Antioxidant Parameters in Mule and Horse Neonates during Their First Month of Extrauterine Adaptation. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 16;13(24).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13243878pubmed: 38136914google scholar: lookup
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