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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).

Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology
March 26, 2025
José A Abecia et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy65/10
Quality75/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.88
Normalized Score0.61
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