Stimulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and elevated cortisol concentrations in fetal plasma are associated with foal maturity, viability and adaptation to independent life. However, non-invasive measurement of cortisol in hair samples has not yet been validated in horses. The current study developed a radioimmunoassay to analyse cortisol in horse hair and was used to measure cortisol hair concentration at birth and at 30 and 60 days of age as a retrospective study of HPA axis activity. Cortisol was detectable in the hair of foals from birth until 2 months, but decreased with time and varied greatly between individuals. Analysis of hair cortisol could be useful for non-invasive retrospective studies of HPA axis activity in perinatal horse
Antonella Comin, Maria C. Veronesi, Marta Montillo, Massimo Faustini, Silvia Valentini, Fausto Cairoli, et al. (2012). Hair cortisol levels as a retrospective marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in horse foals. THE VETERINARY JOURNAL, 194(1), 131-132 [10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.04.006].
Hair cortisol levels as a retrospective marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in horse foals
MONTILLO, MARTA;
2012
Abstract
Stimulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and elevated cortisol concentrations in fetal plasma are associated with foal maturity, viability and adaptation to independent life. However, non-invasive measurement of cortisol in hair samples has not yet been validated in horses. The current study developed a radioimmunoassay to analyse cortisol in horse hair and was used to measure cortisol hair concentration at birth and at 30 and 60 days of age as a retrospective study of HPA axis activity. Cortisol was detectable in the hair of foals from birth until 2 months, but decreased with time and varied greatly between individuals. Analysis of hair cortisol could be useful for non-invasive retrospective studies of HPA axis activity in perinatal horseI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
