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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Endocrinol / The effect of social stress on adrenal axis activity in hors...
The Journal of endocrinology1998; 157(3); 425-432; doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1570425

The effect of social stress on adrenal axis activity in horses: the importance of monitoring corticosteroid-binding globulin capacity.

Abstract: Plasma cortisol is largely bound to corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), which regulates its bioavailability by restricting exit from capillaries. Levels of CBG may be altered by several factors including stress and this can influence the amount of cortisol reaching cells. This study investigated the effect of social instability on plasma concentrations of CBG, total and free (not protein bound) cortisol in horses. Horses new to our research herd ('newcomers') were confined in a small yard with four dominant resident horses for 3-4 h daily for 3-4 (n = 5) or 9-14 (n = 3) days. Jugular blood was collected in the mornings from newcomers before the period of stress began ('pre-stress'), and then before each day's stress. Residents were bled before stress on the first and thirteenth day. Residents always behaved aggressively towards newcomers. By the end of the stress period, all newcomers were subordinate to residents. In newcomers (n = 8) after 3-4 days of social stress, CBG binding capacity had fallen (P = 0.0025), while free cortisol concentrations had risen (P = 0.0016) from pre-stress values. In contrast, total cortisol did not change. In residents, CBG had decreased slightly but significantly (P = 0.0162) after 12 days of stress. Residents and newcomers did not differ in pre-stress CBG binding capacity, total or free cortisol concentrations. However, by the second week of stress, CBG binding capacity was lower (P = 0.015) and free cortisol higher (P = 0.030) in newcomers (n = 3) than in residents. Total cortisol did not differ between the groups. In conclusion social stress clearly affected the adrenal axis of subordinate newcomer horses, lowering the binding capacity of CBG and raising free cortisol concentrations. However, no effect of stress could be detected when only total cortisol was measured. Therefore, to assess adrenal axis status accurately in horses, it is essential to monitor the binding capacity of CBG and free cortisol concentrations in addition to total cortisol levels.
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Publication Date: 1998-08-06 PubMed ID: 9691975DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1570425Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study investigated how social stress impacts the amount and activity of cortisol, a stress hormone, in horses. It found that social stress increased free cortisol levels and decreased the capacity of a protein that binds cortisol, changes which were not detected by measuring only total cortisol levels, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach when assessing stress in animals.

Research Context

  • Hormones, such as cortisol, play a crucial role in the body’s response to stress. These hormones are regulated by proteins, like corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), which controls cortisol’s bioavailability or its ability to exit from capillaries (small blood vessels) and reach cells where it is required.
  • The levels of CBG and hence, cortisol, in the blood can be altered by several factors, including stress.

Study Design and Methods

  • In this study, newcomer horses put in close proximity with older, more dominant ones for a certain period every day. This situation instigated social stress in these newcomer horses.
  • Blood samples were collected from these newcomer horses before and during the stress period. Similar samples were collected from the dominant, resident horses before and after the stress period.
  • In these blood samples, the researchers measured the concentrations of CBG, total (both free and bound) cortisol, and free (not protein-bound) cortisol.

Key Findings

  • It was observed that in experiencing social stress, the newcomer horses showcased a significant decrease in CBG binding capacity and an increase in free cortisol levels from their pre-stress values. However, total cortisol levels did not change.
  • The resident horses also displayed a slight decrease in CBG after experiencing stress, indicating that even the dominant group’s hormones were affected by the introduction of newcomers.
  • It was noted that by the second week of stress, the CBG binding capacity was lower, and free cortisol levels were higher in newcomers than in the resident horses, indicating a noticeable effect of continued social stress.
  • No differences were observed in pre-stress CBG binding capacity, total, or free cortisol concentrations in either group, indicating that the changes observed were indeed due to stress and not an inherent difference between the horses.

Conclusions and Implication

  • This study highlights the effect of social stress on the cortisol-balancing mechanisms in horses and the significant role of proteins like CBG in this process.
  • The findings stress the importance of taking into account not only total cortisol levels but also the binding capacity of CBG and free cortisol concentrations to measure and understand stress effectively, with potential implications for veterinary science and potential broader applications in the study of stress in animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Alexander SL, Irvine CH. (1998). The effect of social stress on adrenal axis activity in horses: the importance of monitoring corticosteroid-binding globulin capacity. J Endocrinol, 157(3), 425-432. https://doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1570425

Publication

The Journal of endocrinology
ISSN: 0022-0795
NlmUniqueID: 0375363
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 157
Issue: 3
Pages: 425-432

Researcher Affiliations

Alexander, S L
  • Department of Endocrinology, Christchurch Public Hospital, New Zealand.
Irvine, C H

    MeSH Terms

    • Adrenal Cortex / physiology
    • Animals
    • Behavior, Animal
    • Female
    • Horses / physiology
    • Hydrocortisone / blood
    • Stress, Psychological
    • Transcortin / analysis
    • Transcortin / metabolism

    Citations

    This article has been cited 27 times.
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