A study of some hormones concentrations in horses: Influences of reproductive status and breed differences

ObjectiveTo learn more about reproductive physiology of adult female Arabian horses over a period of 24 months and to examine the effect of breed’s difference between Arabian and European female horses over a period of 36 months on the circulatory levels of both metabolic hormones (IGF-1 and leptin).MethodsThirty female Arabian mares and 22 European non pregnant brood mares exported from Swedish and Germany of ages from 3 to 7 years belonging to Mubarak Police Academy (Abaseia horse farm) was used. Rectal ultrasonography was conducted in Arabian horses to monitor ovarian activity which classified into cyclic ovarian activity, no ovarian activity, and ovarian tumor, pregnancy and postpartum mares were also included in this study. Blood samples from these mares were collected and analyzed for progesterone and Leptin, IGF-1 and Nitric oxide (NO). In the same time, blood samples were collected from Arabian and foreign breeds for IGF-1 and leptin analysisResultsThere are significant increase in the IGF-1 (778.1±15.7 ng/mL and NO concentrations (39.83±9.15 μM/mL) in case of ovarian tumor. Significant decrease in leptin concentration was recorded (0.61±0.31 ng/mL) in case of postpartum cases. Inactive ovaries mare and pregnant one recorded significant increase in progesterone levels (10.1±1.46 and 22.6±2.0 ng/mL, respectively). On other hand Leptin recorded significant decrease in Arabian horses than European horses (0.86± 0.14 vs. 1.73±1.34), while IGF-1 have no significant change between two breeds.ConclusionThe knowledge of the normal and abnormal metabolic and sex hormones concentrations will help us to understand the role of these hormones in reproductive physiological and additionally, potential diagnostic and prognostic uses in both human and veterinary medicine, and will provide information for further research on this equine breeds as well as in human diseases.