Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T15:00:03.364Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of prolactin inhibition on thermoregulation, water and food intakes in heat-stressed fat-tailed male lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

M. S. Salah
Affiliation:
King Saud University, College of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production, PO Box 2460, Ryiadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
M. A. AlShaikh
Affiliation:
King Saud University, College of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production, PO Box 2460, Ryiadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
M. Y. Al-Saiadi
Affiliation:
King Saud University, College of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production, PO Box 2460, Ryiadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
H. H. Mogawer
Affiliation:
King Saud University, College of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production, PO Box 2460, Ryiadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Get access

Abstract

Two groups each of six lambs of the fat-tailed Naeimi breed, well adapted to a semi-arid climate, were housed under semi-controlled temperature (43·2 to 43·8°C) with low relative humidity (<0·8). After a 1-week adaptation period, the first group (control) was injected subcutaneously with 1 ml vehicle solution of 40% ethanol in saline, twice daily at 08.00 and 17.00 hfor the 11-day experimental period. In the other group, each lamb was injected daily for 6 days with 0·18 mg/kg per day of the prolactin inhibitor, 2 bromo-a-ergocryptine (CB154) dissolved in the vehicle solution. Treatment during the next 5 days was as for the control animals. Rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), water and food intakes were recorded before injections. Daily average data were used in the statistical analysis, except those of the 1st day of bromocryptine injection. Lambs of the control group were able to maintain their RT (39·5 (s.e. 0·04) °C) during heat exposure, but those treated with the bromocryptine could not (40·3 (s.e. 0·07) °C). However, the latter group continued to respire more rapidly (P < 0·01) after cessation of the CB154 treatment, reducing their body temperature slightly (39·9 (s.e. 0·06) °C). This shows that, following prolactin suppression, heat-stressed lambs were unable to regulate their body temperature despite their RR. Water intake did not change during bromocryptine treatment, but the ratio of water to dry-matter intake did increase due to lower food consumption. These results suggest that prolactin might have an important role in thermoregulation of the fat-tailed male sheep during elevated ambient temperature.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Akers, R. M., Bauman, D. E., Capuco, A. V., Goodman, G. T. and Tucker, H. A. 1991. Prolactin regulation of milk secretion and biochemical differentiation of mammary epithelial cells in periparturient cows. Endocrinology 109: 2330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Calder, F. W., Nicholson, J. W. G. and Cunningham, H. M. 1964. Water restriction for sheep on pasture and rate of consumption with other feeds. Canadian Journal of Animal Sciences 44: 266271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cole, E. N., Evered, D., Horrobin, D. F., Manku, M. S., Mtabaji, J. P. and Nassar, B. A. 1975. Is prolactin a fluid and electrolyte regulating hormone in man? Journal of Physiology, London 252: 54P.Google ScholarPubMed
D'Agata, R. and Scapagnini, U. 1979. Effect of bromocryptine (CB154) on oestrogen-induced prolactin release. Ada Endochnologica 90:193197.Google ScholarPubMed
Degen, A. A. and Shkolnik, A. 1978. Thermoregulation in fat-tailed Awassi, a desert sheep, and in German mutton Mereino, a mesic sheep. Physiological Zoology 51: 333339.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ensor, D. M. 1987. Compatativc endocrinology of prolactin, pp. 129192. Chapman and Hall, London.Google Scholar
Faichney, G. I. and Barry, T. N. 1986. Effects of mild heat exposure and suppression of prolactin secretion on gastro-intestinal tract function and temperature regulation in sheep. Australian journal of Biological Sciences 39: 8597.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fluckiger, E. 1976. The pharmacology of bromocryptine. In Pharmacological and chemical aspects of bromocryptine (ed. Bayliss, R., Turner, P. and Mayer, W.) pp. 1226.Google Scholar
Forbes, J. M. 1982. Effects of lighting pattern on growth, lactation and food intake of sheep, cattle and deer. Livestock Production Science 9: 361374.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frisch, J. E. and Vercoe, J. E. 1977. Food intake, eating rate, weight gains, metabolic rates and efficiency of feed utilization in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cross-bred cattle. Animal Production 25: 353358.Google Scholar
Gloria, E., Regisford, C. and Katz, L. S. 1994. Effects of bromocryptine treatment on the expression of sexual behaviour in male sheep (Ovis arks). Journal of Animal Science 72: 591597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goodnight, J. H., Sail, J. P. and Sarle, W. S. 1986. The GLM procedure. In SAS user's guide, statistics. Statistical Analysis Systems Institute, Cary, NC.Google Scholar
Hart, I. C. 1973. Effect of 2-bromo-ergocryptine on milk yield and the level of prolactin and growth hormone in the blood of the goat at milking. Journal of Endocrinology 57: 179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, T. G., Alliston, C. W. and Malven, P. V. 1980. Plasma luteinizing hormone and prolactin in normothermic and hyperthermic ovariectomised ewes. Life Sciences 26: 18931898.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Horrobin, D. F., Manku, M. S. and Burstyn, P. G. 1973. Saluretic action of aldosterone in the presence of excess cortisol: restoration of salt-retaining action by prolactin. Journal of Endocrinology 56: 343346.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Johke, T. and Hodate, K. 1978. Effects of CB154 on serum hormone levels and lactogenesis in dairy cows. Endocrinologica Japonica 25: 6774.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mainoya, J. R. 1975. Analysis of the role of endogenous prolactin on fluid and sodium chloride absorption by the rat jejunum. Journal of Endocrinology 67: 343349.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maltz, E., Olsson, K., Glick, S. M., Fyhorquist, F., Silanikove, N., Chosniak, I. and Shkonik, A. 1984. Homeostatic response to water deprivation or hemorrhage in lactating and non-lactating Bedouin goats. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 77A: 7984.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McKinley, M. J., Oldfield, B. J. and Vivas, L. 1992. Osmotic and hormonal regulation of thirst in domestic animals. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 9: 111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nicoll, C. S. and Bern, H. A. 1972. On the actions of prolactin among the vertebrates: is there a common denominator? In Lactogenic hormones (ed. Wolstenholme, G. E. W. and Knight, J.), pp. 299324. Churchill Livingston, London.Google Scholar
Ravault, J. P., Courot, M., Gamier, D., Pelletier, J. and Terqui, M. 1977. Effect of 2-bromo- α-ergocryptine (CB154) on plasma prolactin, LH and testosterone levels, accessory reproductive glands and spermatogenesis in lambs during puberty. Biology of Reproduction 17: 192197.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ravault, J. P. and Ortavant, R. 1977. Light control of prolactin secretion in sheep. Evidence for photoinducible phase during a diurnal rhythm. Annales de Biologie Animate, Biochimic, Biophysique 17: 459473.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryg, M. and Jacobsen, E. 1982. Effects of thyroid hormones and prolactin on food intake and weight changes in young male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). Canadian journal of Zoology 60:15621567.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schams, D. and Himmler, V. 1978. The effect of reduced water intake on peripheral plasma levels of prolactin in heifers. Hormone and Metabolic Research 10: 360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schams, D., Stephan, E. and Hooley, R. D. 1980. Effect of prolactin inhibition under heat exposure on water intake and excretion of urine, sodium and potassium in bulls. Acta Endocrinologica 94: 315320.Google ScholarPubMed
Sergent, D., Berbigier, P., Kann, G. and Fevre, J. 1985. The effect of sudden solar exposure on thermophysiological parameters and plasma prolactin and cortisol concentrations in male Creole goats. Reproduction Nutrition Developpment 25: 629640.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sergent, D., Berbigier, P. and Ravault, J. P. 1988. Effect of prolactin inhibition on thermophysiological parameters, water and feed intake of sun-exposed male Creole goats (Capra hircus) in Gaudeloupe (French West Indies). Journal of Thermal Biology 13: 5359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silanikove, N. 1987. Effect of imposed reduction of energy intake on resting and fasting heat production in black Bedouin desert goat. Nutrition and Reproduction International 35: 725731.Google Scholar
Smith, V. G., Hacker, R. R. and Brown, R. G. 1977. Effect of alterations in ambient temperature on serum prolactin concentration in steers. Journal of Animal Science 44: 645649.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Suttie, J. M. 1980. Influence of nutrition on growth and sexual maturation of captive red deer stags. Proceedings of the second international reindeer caribou symposium, Roros, Norway, 1979 (ed. Reimers, E., Gaare, E. and Skienneberg, S.), pp. 341349. Direktoratet for vilt of ferskvannsfisk, Trondheim.Google Scholar
Thompson, G. E., Hartmann, P. E., Goode, J. A. and Lindsay, K. S. 1981. Some effects of acute fasting and climatic stresses upon milk secretion in Friesland sheep. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 70A: 1316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walton, J. S., McNeilly, J. R., McNeilly, A. S. and Cunningham, F. J. 1977. Changes in concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin and progesterone in the plasma of ewes during the transition from anoestrus to breeding activity. Journal of Endocrinology 75: 127136.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wettemann, R. P. and Tucker, H. A. 1974. Relationship of ambient temperature to serum prolactin in heifers. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 146:908911.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed