Is the Thoroughbred race-horse under chronic stress?

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Data

1997-10-01

Autores

Nogueira, G. P. [UNESP]
Barnabe, R. C.

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Resumo

Thoroughbred fillies were divided into three groups according to age: group 1, 7 fillies aged 1 to 2 years (G1) starting the training program; group 2, 9 fillies aged 2 to 3 years (G2) in a full training program; group 3, 8 older fillies 3 to 4 years of age (G3) training and racing. Blood samples were collected weekly from July to December. Cortisol was quantified using a solid phase DPC kit. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 12.5% and 15.65% and sensitivity was 1.9 ± 0.2 nmol/ l. The semester average of cortisol levels varied between groups: G1 = 148.8 ± 6.7, G2 = 125.7 ± 5.8, G3 = 101.1 ± 5.4 nmol/l, with G3 differing statistically from the other groups. The lower cortisol levels observed in the older fillies leads us to propose that the stress stimulus, when maintained over a long period of time, may become chronic and result in a reduction of hypophyseal corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors. The secretion of endogenous opioids may also lead to low serum cortisol levels.

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Palavras-chave

Chronic stress, Cortisol, Exercise, Horses, hydrocortisone, animal, animal disease, animal experiment, blood, chronic disease, horse, horse disease, stress, Animals, Chronic Disease, Horse Diseases, Hydrocortisone, Physical Conditioning, Animal, Stress

Como citar

Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, v. 30, n. 10, p. 1237-1239, 1997.