Reproductive considerations: mare and stallion.
Abstract: Functional alterations within the reproductive system and in other supporting systems may limit the reproductive capacity of geriatric patients; however, the age of onset and degree of compromise show wide individual variation. Aging of the hypothalamopituitary-ovarian axis in the mare manifests as delayed entry to the breeding season, prolonged follicular phases, reduced response to ovulation induction, irregular cycles, oocyte defects, increased early embryonic death, and, eventually, persistent anestrus. Aging of the reproductive tract may increase her susceptibility to endometritis, compromise placental formation with long-term effects on the fetus and viability of the resulting foal, increase her risk of ascending placentitis, alter gestation length, and make her more prone to catastrophic rupture of the uterine arteries at the time of parturition. Effects on the stallion are less well documented but include a reduction in sperm output associated with progressive testicular degeneration and potential compromise of libido and mating ability that is often associated with degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
Publication Date: 2003-01-09 PubMed ID: 12516936DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(02)00030-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study investigates the impact of aging on the reproductive capacity of horses, noting that functional changes in their reproductive system and other supporting systems may reduce their ability to reproduce. Both genders experience various age-related challenges, including irregular cycles and increased risk of diseases for mares (female horses), and decreased sperm output and potential libido compromise for stallions (male horses).
Impact of Aging on the Reproductive Capacity of Horses
- The research highlights that functional changes within the reproductive system and other supporting systems may limit the reproductive capabilities of geriatric equines. The impact on individuals varies in terms of age of onset and the degree of compromise.
- Aging affects the hypothalamopituitary-ovarian axis in mares, leading to changes such as delayed entry to the breeding season, prolonged follicular phases, reduced responses to ovulation induction, and irregular cycles. Other consequences include oocyte defects, increased early embryonic death, and eventual persistent anestrus.
- Aging of the reproductive tract makes mares more susceptible to endometritis, a condition that could compromise placental formation, affecting the health and viability of the resulting foal.
- Older mares are at a higher risk of ascending placentitis, a condition that could alter the length of gestation and increase the propensity for severe rupture of the uterine arteries during parturition.
- Less documented yet significant, the effects of aging on stallions include a reduction in sperm output owing to progressive testicular degeneration.
- Aging stallions may also experience a compromise in libido and mating ability, often associated with degenerative conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
Increased Susceptibility to Diseases in Aging Mares
Effects of Aging on Stallions
Cite This Article
APA
Madill S.
(2003).
Reproductive considerations: mare and stallion.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 18(3), 591-619.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(02)00030-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 225 Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. madil001@tc.umn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Breeding / methods
- Estrus / physiology
- Female
- Fertility / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
- Reproduction / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Medica AJ, Lambourne S, Aitken RJ. Predicting the Outcome of Equine Artificial Inseminations Using Chilled Semen. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 30;13(7).
- Aitken RJ, Lambourne S, Medica AJ. Predicting the outcome of Thoroughbred stallion matings on the basis of dismount semen sample analyses. Reproduction 2023 Mar 1;165(3):281-288.
- Fürst A, Meier D, Michel S, Schmidlin A, Held L, Laib A. Effect of age on bone mineral density and micro architecture in the radius and tibia of horses: an Xtreme computed tomographic study. BMC Vet Res 2008 Jan 25;4:3.
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