Association of plasma concentrations of oxytocin, vasopressin, and serotonin with docility and friendliness of horses

Lee, Geumhui; Yoon, Minjung

doi:10.1016/j.domaniend.2020.106482

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…IAO but not intranasal VP promotes cooperative behaviors shown in a meta-analysis of human data ( Yang et al, 2021 ), friendliness in horses ( Lee & Yoon, 2021 ), and patience, cognitive flexibility in reversal learning and generosity under advantageous conditions in humans ( Kapetaniou et al, 2021 ). OT also alleviates negative consequences of isolation in humans ( Pfundmair & Echterhoff, 2021 ).…”

Section: Higher Brain Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Wang

Liu

et al. 2022

ASN Neuro

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Oxytocin (OT), a nonapeptide, has a variety of functions. Despite extensive studies on OT over past decades, our understanding of its neural functions and their regulation remains incomplete. OT is mainly produced in OT neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON), paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and accessory nuclei between the SON and PVN. OT exerts neuromodulatory effects in the brain and spinal cord. While magnocellular OT neurons in the SON and PVN mainly innervate the pituitary and forebrain regions, and parvocellular OT neurons in the PVN innervate brainstem and spinal cord, the two sets of OT neurons have close interactions histologically and functionally. OT expression occurs at early life to promote mental and physical development, while its subsequent decrease in expression in later life stage accompanies aging and diseases. Adaptive changes in this OT system, however, take place under different conditions and upon the maturation of OT release machinery. OT can modulate social recognition and behaviors, learning and memory, emotion, reward, and other higher brain functions. OT also regulates eating and drinking, sleep and wakefulness, nociception and analgesia, sexual behavior, parturition, lactation and other instinctive behaviors. OT regulates the autonomic nervous system, and somatic and specialized senses. Notably, OT can have different modulatory effects on the same function under different conditions. Such divergence may derive from different neural connections, OT receptor gene dimorphism and methylation, and complex interactions with other hormones. In this review, brain functions of OT and their underlying neural mechanisms as well as the perspectives of their clinical usage are presented.

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Section: Higher Brain Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Wang

Liu

et al. 2022

ASN Neuro

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“…As recent genetic sequencing research [ 51 ] shows, through the discovery of a genomic region that may have influenced it, docility and a strong back were even highly valued traits in the Bronze Age. Other studies, using the term trainability for docility, attempted to determine a possible connection between this trait and hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin [ 52 , 53 ]. In our study, the housing system’s change did not influence the docility score of the stallions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Management, Welfare, Emotional State, and Human-Related Docility in Stallions

Popescu

Lazar²,

Borda

et al. 2022

Animals

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Despite an increase in awareness of their essential needs, many stallions continue to be kept in conditions limiting their social interactions and movement. To supplement the studies which highlight the effects of these practices on selected aspects of equine mental and physical wellbeing, we aimed to monitor a group of 32 adult intact stallions during their transition from tethered housing with limited outdoor access to free group housing through the lens of their overall welfare, perceived emotional status, and docility toward humans. Over three visits (before the management change, two weeks, and three months after, respectively), their welfare, qualitative behavior, and docility were assessed. Analysis of the data collected showed an improvement in the stallions’ overall welfare and no decrease in their docility after their group-release, with a constant correlation between these two aspects. The evaluation of their emotional states was less relevant, lacking consistency between the assessments for most of the descriptors used, warranting further research in similar conditions. Although our study covered a relatively short period of time, our results provide encouraging support for stallion owners in deciding on a similar management change for the welfare of their animals.

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“…A more comprehensive evaluation will likely require the combined use of current methods along with addition of new methods; for example, through the continued use of physiological and behavioural measures of stress along with measures that assess a broader aspect of horse affective states. These could include ethograms with affiliative behaviors [86] and physiological measures of hormones of well-being such as oxytocin and serotonin [87]. Studies using a cognitive bias approach also show promise toward understanding animal emotion [88].…”

Section: Gaps and Recommendations For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Human–Horse Interactions on Equine Behaviour, Physiology, and Welfare: A Scoping Review

Kelly

McDuffee²,

Mears

2021

Animals

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Human–horse interactions (HHIs) are diverse and prominent in the equine industry. Stakeholders have an invested interest in making sure that HHIs are humane. Assessment of equine welfare goes beyond physical health and includes assessment of the emotional state of the animal. HHIs can have a permanent effect on human–horse relationships, thereby influencing welfare. Therefore, an understanding of the horse’s affective state during HHIs is necessary. A scoping review was conducted to: (1) map current practices related to the measurement of HHIs; (2) explore the known effects of HHIs on horse behaviour and physiology; and (3) clarify the connection between HHIs and equine welfare. A total of 45 articles were included in this review. Studies that used both physiological and behavioural measures of equine response to human interactions accounted for 42% of the included studies. A further 31% exclusively used physiological measures and 27% used behavioural observation. Current evidence of equine welfare during HHIs is minimal and largely based on the absence of a negative affective state during imposed interactions. Broadening the scope of methods to evaluate a positive affective state and standardization of methodology to assess these states would improve the overall understanding of the horse’s welfare during HHIs.

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Association of plasma concentrations of oxytocin, vasopressin, and serotonin with docility and friendliness of horses

Cited by 8 publications

References 29 publications

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Neural Functions of Hypothalamic Oxytocin and its Regulation

Changes in Management, Welfare, Emotional State, and Human-Related Docility in Stallions

The Effect of Human–Horse Interactions on Equine Behaviour, Physiology, and Welfare: A Scoping Review

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