<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Transport is one of the most common stressors for horses leading to an increase in cortisol secretion. Cortisol promotes leptin synthesis and release. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of short transport on circulating leptin and cortisol concentrations. A total of 16 crossbred naïve horses (7 geldings, 9 mares) aged 2-11 years, and weighing 530-680 kg were included in the study. The horses were transported in a commercial horse-truck to an unknown holding pen for temporary housing. To measure plasma leptin and cortisol concentrations, three blood samples were collected from each horse: before transport, immediately after unloading from the truck, and nine hours after transport at the arrival point. Transport caused a significant increase in mean plasma cortisol concentration determined at unloading, and after nine hours of unloading, in comparison to values obtained before loading. Plasma leptin concentrations did not change during the study. In conclusion, transportation procedures did not influence plasma leptin concentration in horses, despite significantly increased cortisol release.</p></abstract>

Transport is one of the most common stressors for horses leading to an increase in cortisol secretion. Cortisol promotes leptin synthesis and release. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of short transport on circulating leptin and cortisol concentrations. A total of 16 crossbred naïve horses (7 geldings, 9 mares) aged 2-11 years, and weighing 530-680 kg were included in the study. The horses were transported in a commercial horse-truck to an unknown holding pen for temporary housing. To measure plasma leptin and cortisol concentrations, three blood samples were collected from each horse: before transport, immediately after unloading from the truck, and nine hours after transport at the arrival point. Transport caused a significant increase in mean plasma cortisol concentration determined at unloading, and after nine hours of unloading, in comparison to values obtained before loading. Plasma leptin concentrations did not change during the study. In conclusion, transportation procedures did not influence plasma leptin concentration in horses, despite significantly increased cortisol release.

Does road transport influence plasma leptin concentrations in horses? Preliminary study

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Transport is one of the most common stressors for horses leading to an increase in cortisol secretion. Cortisol promotes leptin synthesis and release. The aim...

Does road transport influence plasma leptin concentrations in horses? Preliminary study

Publié en ligne: 30 janv. 2018

Pages: 185 - 193

Reçu: 05 déc. 2016

Accepté: 20 juin 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2017-0015

Mots clés
cortisol, horses, leptin, stress, transport

© by Witold Kędzierski

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Does road transport influence plasma leptin concentrations in horses? Preliminary study

Publié en ligne: 30 janv. 2018

Pages: 185 - 193

Reçu: 05 déc. 2016

Accepté: 20 juin 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/aoas-2017-0015

Mots cléscortisol, horses, leptin, stress, transport

© by Witold Kędzierski

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mots clés
cortisol, horses, leptin, stress, transport