Temporal relationships of 21 physiological variables in horse and sheep.
Abstract: Daily or circadian oscillation has been documented in a variety of physiological and behavioral processes. Although individual variables have been studied in great detail, very few studies have been conducted on the temporal relationships between the rhythms of different variables. It is not known whether the circadian pacemaker generates each and every rhythm individually or whether most rhythms are simply derived from a few clock-controlled rhythms. As a first step in elucidating this issue, 21 physiological variables were recorded simultaneously in horse and sheep. The results indicated that, in both species, different variables exhibit different degrees of daily rhythmicity and reach their daily peaks at different times of the day. The variables exhibiting strongest rhythmicity were locomotor activity, rectal temperature, and plasma concentrations of melatonin and glucose. Comparison of rhythmicity and acrophase in the various rhythms allowed inferences to be made about mechanisms of causation.
Publication Date: 2005-11-14 PubMed ID: 16290083DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2005.07.019Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
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 article investigates how 21 physiological processes in horses and sheep relate to each other over time, specifically looking at daily rhythms. Both species have different levels of daily rhythmicity and daily peak times for various physiological variables. Quadrupedal movement, rectal temperature, and the amount of melatonin and glucose in the blood were among the variables with the strongest daily rhythms.
About the Study
- This research aims to understand the patterns and relationships of different physiological variables in horses and sheep. To do this, the researchers simultaneously recorded 21 variables in both species.
- Daily (circadian) rhythms have been studied in different physiological and behavioral processes. However, fewer studies have examined the temporal relationships between these rhythms: how they interact and influence each other over time.
- The researchers wanted to investigate whether each rhythmic process is generated individually by a body’s internal clock (circadian pacemaker) or whether most rhythms are influenced by a few clock-controlled rhythms.
Key Findings
- In both horses and sheep, the study identified differing degrees of daily rhythmicity amongst the 21 variables studied. This means that each variable had its own unique pattern of activity throughout a 24-hour cycle, with different variables reaching their activity peaks at different times of the day.
- Of all the variables tested, locomotor activity (movement), rectal temperature, and the concentrations of melatonin and glucose in the plasma (the liquid part of blood) had the strongest daily rhythmicity.
- The findings present crucial initial data on the various physiological rhythms in horses and sheep, and their relationship with one another.
Significance of the Study
- The research is of significant importance as it provides insights into the possible mechanisms of causation in the rhythmic physiology of these vertebrates.
- Understanding the temporal links between various physiological processes can help in various fields, including animal welfare, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and potentially human medicine.
- With this knowledge, it could lead to improved animal care and management practices, especially for animals exposed to altered light or environmental cycles, like animals in captivity or industrial agricultural setups.
Cite This Article
APA
Piccione G, Caola G, Refinetti R.
(2005).
Temporal relationships of 21 physiological variables in horse and sheep.
Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol, 142(4), 389-396.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2005.07.019 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Dipartimento di Morfologia, Biochimica, Fisiologia e Produzioni Animali, Facoltà di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal / physiology
- Blood Glucose / physiology
- Body Temperature / physiology
- Circadian Rhythm / physiology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Melatonin / blood
- Melatonin / physiology
- Motor Activity / physiology
- Rectum / physiology
- Sheep / physiology
- Time Factors
Grant Funding
- MH 066826 / NIMH NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Omontese B, Zakari F, Webb M. Rumination and Activity Patterns in Angus and Angus-Cross Beef Calves: Influences of Sex, Breed, and Backgrounding Diet. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 19;12(14).
- Palacios C, Plaza J, Abecia JA. A High Cattle-Grazing Density Alters Circadian Rhythmicity of Temperature, Heart Rate, and Activity as Measured by Implantable Bio-Loggers. Front Physiol 2021;12:707222.
- Li H, Li K, Zhang K, Li Y, Gu H, Liu H, Yang Z, Cai D. The Circadian Physiology: Implications in Livestock Health. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Feb 20;22(4).
- Refinetti R. Circadian rhythmicity of body temperature and metabolism. Temperature (Austin) 2020;7(4):321-362.
- Farsi H, Harti D, Achaâban MR, Piro M, Ouassat M, Challet E, Pévet P, El Allali K. Validation of locomotion scoring as a new and inexpensive technique to record circadian locomotor activity in large mammals. Heliyon 2018 Dec;4(12):e00980.
- Dan W, Yi-Lin L, Guan-Ya L, Rui-Lin H, Yi-Ming Z, Ci-Min L, Zheng R, Lan L, Xin W, Xi-Hong Z, Yu-Long Y. Integrated hepatic transcriptional and serum metabolic studies on circulating nutrient metabolism in diurnal laying hens. Oncotarget 2017 Dec 26;8(69):113885-113894.
- Aubè L, Fatnassi M, Monaco D, Khorchani T, Lacalandra GM, Hammadi M, Padalino B. Daily rhythms of behavioral and hormonal patterns in male dromedary camels housed in boxes. PeerJ 2017;5:e3074.
- Blessing W, Ootsuka Y. Timing of activities of daily life is jaggy: How episodic ultradian changes in body and brain temperature are integrated into this process. Temperature (Austin) 2016;3(3):371-383.
- Refinetti R, Lissen GC, Halberg F. Procedures for numerical analysis of circadian rhythms. Biol Rhythm Res 2007;38(4):275-325.
- Murphy BA, Martin AM, Furney P, Elliott JA. Absence of a serum melatonin rhythm under acutely extended darkness in the horse. J Circadian Rhythms 2011 May 10;9:3.
- Murphy BA, Elliott JA, Sessions DR, Vick MM, Kennedy EL, Fitzgerald BP. Rapid phase adjustment of melatonin and core body temperature rhythms following a 6-h advance of the light/dark cycle in the horse. J Circadian Rhythms 2007 Aug 24;5:5.
- Piccione G, Foà A, Bertolucci C, Caola G. Daily rhythm of salivary and serum urea concentration in sheep. J Circadian Rhythms 2006 Nov 23;4:16.
- Aragona F, Tabbì M, Gugliandolo E, Giannetto C, D'Angelo F, Fazio F, Interlandi C. Role of cannabidiolic acid or the combination of cannabigerol/cannabidiol in pain modulation and welfare improvement in horses with chronic osteoarthritis. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1496473.
- Interlandi C, Tabbì M, Di Pietro S, D'Angelo F, Costa GL, Arfuso F, Giudice E, Licata P, Macrì D, Crupi R, Gugliandolo E. Improved quality of life and pain relief in mature horses with osteoarthritis after oral transmucosal cannabidiol oil administration as part of an analgesic regimen. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1341396.
- Hibberd TJ, Ramsay S, Spencer-Merris P, Dinning PG, Zagorodnyuk VP, Spencer NJ. Circadian rhythms in colonic function. Front Physiol 2023;14:1239278.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
