Effect of ACTH (tetracosactide) on steroid hormone levels in the mare. Part A: Effect in intact normal mares and mares with possible estrous related behavioral abnormalities

Ovariectomized mares and mares with inactive ovaries may show signs of estrus. The reason behind this phenomenon is not clear; however, steroid hormones of adrenal origin have been suggested. Moreover, aberrant adrenal hormone production has been implied as a reason why some intact mares may change...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal reproduction science 2007-07, Vol.100 (1-2), p.73-91
Main Authors: Hedberg, Y, Dalin, A.M, Forsberg, M, Lundeheim, N, Hoffmann, B, Ludwig, C, Kindahl, H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adrenal cortex hormones
adrenal glands
Androstenedione - blood
animal behavior
Animals
Behavior, Animal - drug effects
Behavior, Animal - physiology
bioassays
blood sampling
corticotropin
Cosyntropin - pharmacology
estrous cycle
Estrous Cycle - drug effects
Female
hormone metabolism
Horse Diseases - blood
Horses
Hydrocortisone - blood
mares
ovariectomy
Progesterone - blood
sexual behavior
steroid hormones
synthetic hormones
Testosterone - blood
tetracosactide
Time Factors
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Summary:Ovariectomized mares and mares with inactive ovaries may show signs of estrus. The reason behind this phenomenon is not clear; however, steroid hormones of adrenal origin have been suggested. Moreover, aberrant adrenal hormone production has been implied as a reason why some intact mares may change behavior. In the present study, the effect of ACTH on plasma levels of cortisol, progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone was investigated in intact mares with normal estrous behavior ('controls', n=5) and intact mares that according to their owners showed deviant estrous behavior ('problem' mares, n=7). Blood samples were collected hourly from 12:00 h until 14:00 h the following day (half-hourly between 14:00 and 17:00 h) on two occasions (at two estruses), with saline or ACTH treatment (tetracosactide) at 14:00 h (saline treatment day or ACTH treatment day). ACTH treatment caused a significant increase in plasma levels of cortisol, progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone in all mares (P
ISSN:0378-4320
1873-2232
DOI:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2006.06.008