Relationship Between Oxytocin and Serotonin and the Fearfulness, Dominance, and Trainability of Horses

Overview

Journal J Anim Sci Technol

Date 2021 May 14

PMID 33987618

Citations 6

Authors

Junyoung Kim

Youngjae Park

Eun Joong Kim

Heejun Jung

Minjung Yoon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Oxytocin (OXT) and serotonin (5-HT) are essential neurotransmitters associated with the behavior of animals. Recently, we found that the plasma concentration of OXT is positively correlated with horse docility and friendliness toward humans. However, the relationships between the neurotransmitters and other temperaments such as fearfulness, dominance, and trainability are unknown. This study aimed to identify whether the plasma concentration of OXT or 5-HT is correlated with fearfulness, dominance, and trainability of horses. Blood samples of 34 horses were collected at the Horse Industry Complex Center of Jeonju Kijeon College. The concentration of OXT and 5-HT was measured in the plasma samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The fearfulness, dominance, and trainability of horses were scored by three professors who were very familiar with the horses. One-way analysis of variance with the least significant difference post-hoc analysis was used to compare the scores for fearfulness and dominance among groups. The trainability of horses was compared using the student -test. The 5-HT was negatively correlated with dominance, but it had no relation with fearfulness. The OXT appeared to be negatively correlated with fearfulness and dominance in horses. Furthermore, OXT was positively correlated with the trainability of horses. Additionally, 5-HT appeared to enhance trainability. In conclusion, the concentration of OXT or 5-HT in horse blood plasma can be used as a biomarker to monitor the fearfulness, dominance, or trainability of horses.

Citing Articles

Social isolation induces sexually aggressive behaviour in male Wistar rats.

Ngala M, Hemmings S, Womersley J, Shabangu T, Qulu-Appiah L BMC Neurosci. 2025; 26(1):15.

PMID: 40011829 PMC: 11866782. DOI: 10.1186/s12868-025-00932-0.

Oxytocin in horse saliva: validation of a highly sensitive assay and a pilot report about changes in equine gastric ulcer syndrome.

Botia M, Munoz-Prieto A, Martinez-Subiela S, Martin-Cuervo M, Hansen S, Manteca X BMC Vet Res. 2025; 21(1):90.

PMID: 39987089 PMC: 11847335. DOI: 10.1186/s12917-025-04569-3.

Systematic review: pain, cognition, and cardioprotection-unpacking oxytocin's contributions in a sport context.

Szabo P, Bonet S, Hetenyi R, Hanna D, Kovacs Z, Prisztoka G Front Physiol. 2024; 15:1393497.

PMID: 38915776 PMC: 11194439. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1393497.

Non-Synonymous Substitutions in Cadherin 13, Solute Carrier Family 6 Member 4, and Monoamine Oxidase A Genes are Associated with Personality Traits in Thoroughbred Horses.

Yokomori T, Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Ishimaru M, Sato F, Hori Y Behav Genet. 2024; 54(4):333-341.

PMID: 38856811 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-024-10186-x.

Comparison of the fecal microbiota with high- and low performance race horses.

Park T, Yoon J, Yun Y, Unno T J Anim Sci Technol. 2024; 66(2):425-437.

PMID: 38628692 PMC: 11016738. DOI: 10.5187/jast.2023.e45.

References

Churchland P, Winkielman P . Modulating social behavior with oxytocin: how does it work? What does it mean?. Horm Behav. 2011; 61(3):392-9. PMC: 3312973. DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.12.003. View

Goldsmith H, BUSS A, Plomin R, Rothbart M, Thomas A, CHESS S . Roundtable: what is temperament? Four approaches. Child Dev. 1987; 58(2):505-29. View

GIACALONE E, Tansella M, VALZELLI L, Garattini S . Brain serotonin metabolism in isolated aggressive mice. Biochem Pharmacol. 1968; 17(7):1315-27. DOI: 10.1016/0006-2952(68)90069-5. View

Sapolsky R . Stress in the wild. Sci Am. 1990; 262(1):116-23. DOI: 10.1038/scientificamerican0190-116. View

Ferris C, Delville Y . Vasopressin and serotonin interactions in the control of agonistic behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1994; 19(5-7):593-601. DOI: 10.1016/0306-4530(94)90043-4. View

Kotrschal K, Schoberl I, Bauer B, Thibeaut A, Wedl M . Dyadic relationships and operational performance of male and female owners and their male dogs. Behav Processes. 2009; 81(3):383-91. DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2009.04.001. View

Konno A, Inoue-Murayama M, Yabuta S, Tonoike A, Nagasawa M, Mogi K . Effect of Canine Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism on the Successful Training of Drug Detection Dogs. J Hered. 2018; 109(5):566-572. DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esy012. View

Ursinus W, van Reenen C, Reimert I, Bolhuis J . Tail biting in pigs: blood serotonin and fearfulness as pieces of the puzzle?. PLoS One. 2014; 9(9):e107040. PMC: 4154847. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107040. View

Jacobs B, Azmitia E . Structure and function of the brain serotonin system. Physiol Rev. 1992; 72(1):165-229. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.1992.72.1.165. View

10.

Watt G, Finch C . Preventing equestrian injuries. Locking the stable door. Sports Med. 1996; 22(3):187-97. DOI: 10.2165/00007256-199622030-00005. View

11.

Ludwig M, Leng G . Dendritic peptide release and peptide-dependent behaviours. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2006; 7(2):126-36. DOI: 10.1038/nrn1845. View

12.

Guyton K, Houchen-Wise E, Peck E, Mayberry J . Equestrian injury is costly, disabling, and frequently preventable: the imperative for improved safety awareness. Am Surg. 2013; 79(1):76-83. View

13.

Francis D, Champagne F, Meaney M . Variations in maternal behaviour are associated with differences in oxytocin receptor levels in the rat. J Neuroendocrinol. 2000; 12(12):1145-8. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2826.2000.00599.x. View

14.

Thompson K, McGreevy P, McManus P . A Critical Review of Horse-Related Risk: A Research Agenda for Safer Mounts, Riders and Equestrian Cultures. Animals (Basel). 2015; 5(3):561-75. PMC: 4598694. DOI: 10.3390/ani5030372. View

15.

Uvnas-Moberg K . Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1999; 23(8):819-35. DOI: 10.1016/s0306-4530(98)00056-0. View

16.

Yayou K, Ito S, Yamamoto N . Relationships between postnatal plasma oxytocin concentrations and social behaviors in cattle. Anim Sci J. 2015; 86(8):806-13. DOI: 10.1111/asj.12363. View

17.

Mills D . Personality and individual differences in the horse, their significance, use and measurement. Equine Vet J Suppl. 1999; (27):10-3. DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb05137.x. View

18.

Rault J . Effects of positive and negative human contacts and intranasal oxytocin on cerebrospinal fluid oxytocin. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2016; 69:60-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.03.015. View

19.

Bari A, Robbins T . Inhibition and impulsivity: behavioral and neural basis of response control. Prog Neurobiol. 2013; 108:44-79. DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.06.005. View

20.

Jiang Y, Platt M . Oxytocin and vasopressin flatten dominance hierarchy and enhance behavioral synchrony in part via anterior cingulate cortex. Sci Rep. 2018; 8(1):8201. PMC: 5974023. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25607-1. View