The effects of extended photoperiod and warmth on hair growth in ponies and horses at different times of year.

ABSTRACT: Photoperiod is considered the most dominant environmental cue allowing animals to anticipate and adapt to seasonal changes. In seasonally breeding mammals, changes in daylength alter pineal melatonin secretion and pituitary prolactin secretion. During the seasonal transition to shorter winter daylengths, increased production of melatonin and declining prolactin are associated with triggering winter coat growth in many animals. Similarly, studies have shown that artificial extension of photoperiod suppresses melatonin secretion and lifts prolactin inhibition to activate moulting. Four longitudinal cohort studies were conducted to determine if extended photoperiod and warmth, provided by mobile light masks and rugs (horse blankets), could reverse the onset of winter coat growth, maintain the

SUBMITTER: O'Brien C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6959597 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature