Triaxial accelerometers and subcutaneous biologgers as tools to record diurnal and nocturnal changes in locomotor activity, body temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability in melatonin-treated lambs (Ovis aries).
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effects of exogenous melatonin treatment on physiological characteristics (locomotor activity, temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability) in fattening lambs at weaning.
Results Summary
Melatonin treatment did not affect locomotor activity or temperature but reduced heart rate and heart rate variability (SDNN and RMSSD). Circadian rhythms were observed in all variables, with melatonin effects differing between day and night.
Population
Fattening lambs (Ovis aries) at weaning.
Effective Dosage
Two subcutaneous melatonin implants (specific dosage not provided).
Duration
Duration not explicitly stated, but measurements were taken over 7 days post-implantation.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
exogenous melatonin treatment | no change | locomotor activity | fattening lambs at weaning | - | did not affect | #1 |
exogenous melatonin treatment | no change | subcutaneous temperature | fattening lambs at weaning | - | did not affect | #2 |
exogenous melatonin treatment | decrease | heart rate | melatonin-treated lambs | - | had lower | #3 |
exogenous melatonin treatment | decrease | SDNN | melatonin-treated lambs | - | had lower | #4 |
exogenous melatonin treatment | decrease | RMSSD | melatonin-treated lambs | - | had lower | #5 |
exogenous melatonin treatment | decrease | HRV | growing lambs | - | negatively affected | #6 |
time of day | neutral | locomotor activity | lambs | - | had a significant effect on | #7 |
time of day | neutral | subcutaneous temperature | lambs | - | had a significant effect on | #8 |
time of day | neutral | heart rate | lambs | - | had a significant effect on | #9 |
The study of growth and development of lambs (Ovis aries) is essential in sheep farming, and melatonin plays an important role in the physiology of growing lambs. The effects of an exogenous melatonin treatment on several physiological characteristics in fattening lambs at weaning were studied. Eight lambs were assigned to one of two groups; those that did (melatonin group, n = 4) or did not (no-melatonin group, n = 4) receive two subcutaneous melatonin implants at weaning. At the end of the fattening period, to quantify locomotor activity (LA), each lamb was fitted with a triaxial accelerometer, for 7 days. Simultaneously, lambs received a surgically implanted subcutaneous temperature (T) and heart rate (HR) biologger, which was programmed to record data every 5 min. HR variability (HRV) variables (SDNN, the standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R intervals, and RMSSD, the root mean square of consecutive deviations between normal heartbeats) were measured. All of the variables exhibited 24-h circadian rhythms. Time of day (daytime vs. nighttime) had a significant effect on LA, T, and HR, but considering both treatment with melatonin and time, differences between time for these variables were only observed in melatonin-treated lambs. Exogenous melatonin did not affect LA or T, but melatonin-treated lambs had lower HR, SDNN, and RMSSD than did non-treated lambs. In conclusion, the use of subcutaneous biologgers and triaxial accelerometers in growing lambs demonstrated circadian rhythms in LA, T, HR, and HRV, and melatonin treatment negatively affected HRV, but its effects on the other physiological variables differed between day and night.