Cortisol concentration in the Cortisol concentration in the saliva of horses subjected to saliva of horses subjected to different kinds of exercisedifferent kinds of exercise

KK. . StrzelecStrzelec,, M. M. Kankofer SKankofer S. . Pietrzak’sPietrzak’s

Els Rusi Els Rusi 20112011

Key wordsKey words

EffortEffort

Equestrian disciplinesEquestrian disciplines

StressStress

Sport horsesSport horses

CortisolCortisol

NNatural glucocorticoid hormone atural glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex produced by the adrenal cortex

OnOne of the main substances that e of the main substances that indicate stress levelindicate stress level

The most effective wayThe most effective way

of determining cortisolof determining cortisol

concentration in animalsconcentration in animals

is using their salivais using their saliva

AimAim

Characterize the stress level in Characterize the stress level in sport horses subjected to exercise sport horses subjected to exercise by measuring the cortisol by measuring the cortisol concentration in their saliva concentration in their saliva

MethodsMethods

This study was This study was based on 5 groups based on 5 groups of horses doing of horses doing different types of different types of exerciseexercise

• Control groupControl group• Light exercise Light exercise

groupgroup• Three sport groupsThree sport groups

In the research thereIn the research there

were horses ofwere horses of

differentdifferent:: breedbreed age age (from 4 to 20 years)(from 4 to 20 years)

training program training program

3 sport groups3 sport groups

1. Show jumping1. Show jumping 2. Dressage2. Dressage

3. Three-day eventing3. Three-day eventing

Saliva samplesSaliva samples

Collected 3 × a day: Collected 3 × a day:

Late at night (between 20:00 and Late at night (between 20:00 and 23:00 h)23:00 h)

Early in the morning (between 5:00 Early in the morning (between 5:00 and 8:00 h) and 8:00 h)

Directly after the exercise. Directly after the exercise.

GroupGroupNumber of Number of

horseshorses

Late Late eveninevenin

gg

Early Early

morningmorning

After After exercisexercis

ee

MeanMean SDSD MeanMean SDSD MeanMean SDSD

ControlControl 1010 0,45a0,45a 0,570,57 0,49a0,49a 0.740.74 0,28a0,28a 00

RecreationalRecreational 99 0,55a0,55a 0,580,58 0,29a0,29a 0.050.05 0,74a0,74a 1,391,39

S – 1 (jumping)S – 1 (jumping) 1010 3,45b3,45b 4,924,92 2,43b2,43b 2,892,89 3,98b3,98b 5,945,94

S – 2 (3day S – 2 (3day event)event) 1010 0,77aA0,77aA 1,581,58 0,81abA0,81abA 1,711,71 8,39cB8,39cB 4,364,36

S – 3 (dressage)S – 3 (dressage) 1010 0,43a0,43a 0,410,41 1,41ab1,41ab 1,891,89 0,71a0,71a 0,290,29

Statistical characteristic of salivary Statistical characteristic of salivary cortisol concentration (nmol/dm3) in cortisol concentration (nmol/dm3) in

examined groups of horsesexamined groups of horses

a, b, c … Significant differences at a, b, c … Significant differences at p p < 0.01 (in columns)< 0.01 (in columns) A, B … Significant differences at A, B … Significant differences at p p < 0.01 (at lines)< 0.01 (at lines)

ConclusionsConclusions

The highest cortisol concentration was observed The highest cortisol concentration was observed for the horses participating in 3-day events (8.93 for the horses participating in 3-day events (8.93 nmol/dm3), whereas in the control group it was nmol/dm3), whereas in the control group it was only 0.28 nmol/dm3 only 0.28 nmol/dm3

The stress level as measured by the cortisol The stress level as measured by the cortisol concentration in saliva increases with increasing concentration in saliva increases with increasing exercise intensity and its durationexercise intensity and its duration

The obtained results do not confirm the existence of The obtained results do not confirm the existence of a day rhythm of the cortisol concentration in a day rhythm of the cortisol concentration in horseshorses

ReferencesReferences

Acta Veterinaria Brno. 2010 Acta Veterinaria Brno. 2010 “Cortisol concentration in the “Cortisol concentration in the saliva of horses subjected to saliva of horses subjected to different kinds of exercise” different kinds of exercise” Available at Available at http://actavet.vfu.cz/pdf/2011800http://actavet.vfu.cz/pdf/201180010101.pdf10101.pdf

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