Satué Katiuska, Medica Pietro, Fauci Deborah La, Gímenez Elena Damía, Fazio Esterina
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cardenal Herrera University, Valencia, Spain.
Unit of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Messina University, Polo Universitario Annunziata, Messina, 98168, Italy.
Vet Res Commun. 2025 Aug 8;49(5):277. doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10853-2.
Catecholamines (CATs) are essential neuroendocrine regulators with plasma concentrations that naturally fluctuate during pregnancy. Age-related changes in CATs, observed in humans and animals, suggest that gestation and aging together influence catecholaminergic activity. Blood samples were collected from Spanish Purebred mares categorized into three age cohorts (4-7 years, n = 18; 8-10 years, n = 18; 11-15 years, n = 18) across four defined gestational stages: first trimester (T1), second trimester (T2), third trimester (T3), and the final bimester (B4). Plasma concentrations of adrenaline (A), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DA) were quantified using a horse-specific validated competitive enzyme immunoassay (3-CAT EIA). CATs during gestation showed age-dependent patterns: A declined from T1 to T2 (p < 0.05), stabilizing or slightly increasing at T3-B4; mares 8-10 years had greatest A at T1, while 11-15 years maintained greater A concentrations at T2. NA was elevated in younger mares (4-7 years) in late gestation (p ≤ 0.05), with the lowest concentrations in mares of 8-10 years. DA peaked in mid-gestation and decreased before parturition (p ≤ 0.05), with older mares that display a more stable profile. These findings highlight age-related modulation of neuroendocrine function during pregnancy.
儿茶酚胺（CATs）是重要的神经内分泌调节剂，其血浆浓度在孕期会自然波动。在人类和动物中观察到的与年龄相关的儿茶酚胺变化表明，妊娠和衰老共同影响儿茶酚胺能活性。从西班牙纯种母马采集血样，这些母马分为三个年龄组（4 - 7岁，n = 18；8 - 10岁，n = 18；11 - 15岁，n = 18），处于四个明确的妊娠阶段：孕早期（T1）、孕中期（T2）、孕晚期（T3）和最后两个月（B4）。使用经过验证的马特异性竞争性酶免疫测定法（3 - CAT EIA）对肾上腺素（A）、去甲肾上腺素（NA）和多巴胺（DA）的血浆浓度进行定量。妊娠期的儿茶酚胺呈现年龄依赖性模式：A从T1到T2下降（p < 0.05），在T3 - B4稳定或略有增加；8 - 10岁的母马在T1时A最高，而11 - 15岁的母马在T2时保持较高的A浓度。NA在妊娠后期年轻母马（4 - 7岁）中升高（p≤0.05），在8 - 10岁母马中浓度最低。DA在妊娠中期达到峰值，在分娩前下降（p≤0.05），年龄较大的母马表现出更稳定的特征。这些发现突出了孕期神经内分泌功能的年龄相关调节。
