(C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Objective-To measure plasma ACTH, alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), and insulin concentrations

during various photoperiods between February and October in horses and ponies with and without pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID).\n\nDesign-Cohort study.\n\nAnimals-13 clinically normal (control) ponies, 14 clinically normal (control) horses, 7 ponies LY2835219 cost with PPID, and 8 horses with PPID.\n\nProcedures-Blood samples were collected from February through October during 8 photoperiods: 1, February 13 through March 2; 2, April 4 through 6; 3, June 19 through 22; 4, August 6 through 7; 5, August 14 through 17; 6, September 4 through 6; 7, September

26 through 28; and 8, October 16 through 18. plasma ACTH, alpha-MSH, and insulin concentrations at each photoperiod were compared among groups.\n\nResults-Log ACTH concentration was increased during photoperiod 4 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1 through 3, in all groups. In photoperiod 3 through 7, log ACTH concentrations were higher in horses and ponies with PPID, compared with values for control horses and ponies. alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (log and raw value) concentration was higher in photoperiod 2 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1, in control horses and ponies. In horses and ponies with PPID, log alpha-MSH concentration was higher in photoperiod 3 through 8, and alpha-MSH concentration was higher in photoperiod 4 through 8, compared with photoperiod 1. In control horses and ponies, plasma insulin concentration was lower in photoperiod SNX-5422 in vivo 3 than in photoperiod 1.\n\nConclusions

and Clinical Relevance-Plasma alpha-MSH and ACTH concentrations increased as daylight decreased from summer solstice (maximum daylight hours) to 12 hours of daylight. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009;235:715-722)”
“Background: Clipping the winter coat in horses is done to improve heat dissipation during exercise and make grooming easier. It is often combined with blanketing to keep the horse warm. The aims of the present study were to investigate how clipping and the use of blankets affect thermoregulation during exercise and recovery in horses.\n\nMethods: One Gotland Selleckchem GNS-1480 pony, one New Forest pony, and one warm-blooded horse exercised one after the other on a 6450 m long track. The horses walked, trotted and cantered according to a predetermined scheme, which took about 50 minutes including three stops. The scheme was repeated on five consecutive days when horses were: 1) unclipped 2) unclipped + blanket during recovery, 3) left or right side clipped, 4) clipped, and 5) clipped + riding blanket + blanket during recovery. Heart rate (HR) was measured with telemetry, respiratory rate (RR) by counting flank contractions, skin temperatures by thermistor probes, and rectal temperature with a digital thermometer.