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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Sci / Responses of cortisol and prolactin to sexual excitement and...
Journal of animal science1991; 69(6); 2556-2562; doi: 10.2527/1991.6962556x

Responses of cortisol and prolactin to sexual excitement and stress in stallions and geldings.

Abstract: Sexual stimulation induces rapid secretion of cortisol and prolactin (PRL) in stallions. Experiment 1 was designated to determine whether stallions associated location and(or) procedure with previous sexual stimulation in that location. After a control period on d 1, four stallions were exposed to an estrous mare for 5 min on d 2. On d 3, 4, 5, and 6, the same procedure was followed with no mare present. Concentrations of PRL and cortisol increased (P less than .05) after mare exposure on d 2 but did not vary (P greater than .05) on d 1, 3, 4, 5, or 6. In Exp. 2, six stallions were used to determine the short-term effects of 1) sexual stimulation, 2) acute physical exercise, 3) restraint via a twitch (twitching), 4) epinephrine administration, and 5) no stimulation on plasma concentrations of PRL and cortisol. Stallions received one treatment per day separated by 2 d of no treatment. Concentrations of cortisol increased (P less than .05) within 10 min after sexual stimulation, exercise, twitching, and epinephrine administration but not during control bleedings. Concentrations of PRL increased (P less than .05) immediately after sexual stimulation, exercise, and twitching but not after epinephrine administration or during control bleeding. In Exp. 3, the same five treatments were administered to six geldings. Concentrations of cortisol increased (P less than .05) after epinephrine administration, exercise, and twitching but not after sexual stimulation or during control bleedings. Concentrations of PRL increased (P less than .05) after exercise and sexual stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Publication Date: 1991-06-11 PubMed ID: 1885370DOI: 10.2527/1991.6962556xGoogle 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.

The research examines the hormonal responses of stallions and geldings to sexual stimulation, physical exercise, restraint, and drug administration, finding that both cortisol and prolactin levels increase under certain conditions in these animals.

Research Design and Procedure

  • The researchers conducted three experiments to explore the physiological responses in horses to different types of stimulation and stressors. Each experiment was carried out with a distinct focus.
  • In the first experiment, the scientists examined whether stallions would associate a particular location or routine with previous sexual stimulation. To do this, they introduced an estrous mare to four stallions on the second day and then repeated the procedure without the mare present for the subsequent four days.
  • The second experiment sought to determine the immediate effects of various stressors including sexual stimulation, acute physical exercise, restraint (known as ‘twitching’) and the administration of a hormone (epinephrine), as well as a control (no stimulation) on cortisol and prolactin levels. The stallions were subjected to one treatment per day separated by two days of rest.
  • The third experiment replicated the second experiment but was conducted on geldings rather than stallions.

Research Findings

  • Results from the first experiment indicated that cortisol and prolactin levels in stallions increased following exposure to a mare but remained steady when the mare was not present, suggesting that sexual stimulation had a direct impact on these hormone levels.
  • For the second experiment, the researchers found cortisol levels increased within 10 minutes of sexual stimulation, exercise, twitching, and hormone administration, whilst prolactin levels rose immediately after sexual stimulation, exercise and twitching, but not after hormonal administration. There were no hormonal increases observed during control bleedings.
  • In the final experiment conducted on geldings, the researchers observed that cortisol levels increased after the administration of a hormone, exercise, and twitching but not after sexual stimulation. Prolactin concentrations increased solely after exercise and sexual stimulation.

Conclusion

  • Based upon these findings, the researchers concluded that both sexual stimulation and specific stressors directly affect cortisol and prolactin hormone levels in stallions and geldings, though to different extents. Further, the results suggest that particular forms of stimulation (e.g., physical exercise, ‘twitching’) may have a broader impact on hormone levels than others (e.g., epinephrine administration).

Cite This Article

APA
Colborn DR, Thompson DL, Roth TL, Capehart JS, White KL. (1991). Responses of cortisol and prolactin to sexual excitement and stress in stallions and geldings. J Anim Sci, 69(6), 2556-2562. https://doi.org/10.2527/1991.6962556x

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 0021-8812
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 69
Issue: 6
Pages: 2556-2562

Researcher Affiliations

Colborn, D R
  • Anim. Sci. Dept., Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge 70803.
Thompson, D L
    Roth, T L
      Capehart, J S
        White, K L

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Epinephrine / pharmacology
          • Horse Diseases / blood
          • Horses / physiology
          • Hydrocortisone / blood
          • Male
          • Orchiectomy / veterinary
          • Physical Exertion / physiology
          • Prolactin / blood
          • Restraint, Physical
          • Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology
          • Stress, Physiological / blood
          • Stress, Physiological / veterinary
          • Testis / physiology

          Citations

          This article has been cited 16 times.
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