Influence of exercise and emotional stresses on secretion of prolactin and growth hormone in thoroughbred horses

Abstract

The secretion of prolactin and growth hormone in response to exercise and emotional stresses was investigated in Thoroughbreds. Two experiments were performed: One with loading of only exercise stress and one with simultaneous loading of exercise and emotional stresses. Exercise stress was loaded in 4 steps using a treadmill for horses: Pre-exercise period (5 min), walking period (6.5 min), galloping period (3 min), and cooling down period (10 min). Emotional stress was loaded by showing a loud video of an audience at a racetrack during the walking period. The results clearly demonstrated that exercise stress rapidly increased the secretion of prolactin and growth hormone and that secretion of them persisted for a specific period after the exercise. In addition, emotional stress promoted prolactin secretion.