Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Science, 16845 Neustadt (Dosse), Germany.
Horm Behav. 2010 Feb;57(2):209-15. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.11.003. Epub 2009 Nov 26.
Based on plasma cortisol concentrations it is widely accepted that transport is stressful to horses. So far, cortisol release during transport has not been evaluated in depth by non-invasive techniques such as analysis of salivary cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites. Transport also causes changes in heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV). In this study, salivary cortisol, faecal cortisol metabolites, heart rate and HRV in horses transported by road for short (one and 3.5 h) and medium duration (8 h) were determined. With the onset of transport, salivary cortisol increased immediately but highest concentrations were measured towards the end of transport (4.1+/-1.6, 4.5+/-2.6, 6.5+/-1.8 ng/ml in horses transported for one, 3.5 and 8 h, respectively). Faecal cortisol metabolite concentrations did not change during transport, but 1 day after transport for 3.5 and 8 h had increased significantly (p<0.01), reflecting intestinal passage time. Compared to salivary cortisol, changes in faecal cortisol metabolites were less pronounced. Heart rate increased and beat-to-beat (RR) interval decreased (p<0.05) with the onset of transport. Standard deviation of heart rate increased while root mean square of successive RR differences (RMSSD) decreased in horses transported for 3.5 (from 74+/-5 to 45+/-6 ms) and 8 h (from 89.7+/-7 to 59+/-7 ms), indicating a reduction in vagal tone. In conclusion, transport of horses over short and medium distances leads to increased cortisol release and changes in heart rate and HRV indicative of stress. The degree of these changes is related to the duration of transport. Salivary cortisol is a sensitive parameter to detect transient changes in cortisol release.
基于血浆皮质醇浓度，人们普遍认为运输对马是有压力的。到目前为止，还没有通过非侵入性技术（如唾液皮质醇和粪便皮质醇代谢物分析）来深入评估运输过程中的皮质醇释放。运输还会导致心率和心率变异性（HRV）的变化。在这项研究中，测定了短途（1 小时和 3.5 小时）和中长途（8 小时）公路运输的马的唾液皮质醇、粪便皮质醇代谢物、心率和 HRV。随着运输的开始，唾液皮质醇立即增加，但在运输结束时测量到最高浓度（分别为 1 小时、3.5 小时和 8 小时运输的马的 4.1+/-1.6、4.5+/-2.6 和 6.5+/-1.8ng/ml）。在运输过程中，粪便皮质醇代谢物浓度没有变化，但在运输后 1 天，3.5 小时和 8 小时的浓度显著增加（p<0.01），反映了肠道通过时间。与唾液皮质醇相比，粪便皮质醇代谢物的变化不太明显。随着运输的开始，心率增加，RR 间期缩短（p<0.05）。3.5 小时（从 74+/-5 到 45+/-6ms）和 8 小时（从 89.7+/-7 到 59+/-7ms）的马的心率标准差增加，而连续 RR 差异的均方根（RMSSD）减少，表明迷走神经张力降低。总之，短距离和中距离的马运输会导致皮质醇释放增加，以及心率和 HRV 的变化，表明存在应激。这些变化的程度与运输时间有关。唾液皮质醇是检测皮质醇释放瞬态变化的敏感参数。
