HAIR STEROID HORMONES CONCENTRATIONS IN MARTINA FRANCA JENNIES AND THEIR DONKEY FOALS FROM PARTURITION TO 6 MONTHS POSTPARTUM.

Donkey foals show distinct HPA axis activation patterns postpartum compared to jennies.

This study investigated hair steroid hormone concentrations in Martina Franca jennies and their donkey foals from parturition through 6 months postpartum. Ten dams and ten foals were monitored for cortisol (C), DHEA(S), 17-β-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), testosterone (T), and allopregnanolone (AlloP) concentrations. Donkey foals exhibited significantly higher cortisol and allopregnanolone hair concentrations at birth compared to jennies, along with elevated C:DHEA(S) ratios. Distinct hormonal profiles emerged between foals and jennies for most hormones, with significant decreases observed in allopregnanolone, DHEA(S), and testosterone between birth and subsequent timepoints. Male foals demonstrated elevated cortisol concentrations and C:DHEA(S) ratios at 90 days postpartum relative to females, though sample size limitations require cautious interpretation. The findings suggest differential hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation between dams and offspring during the immediate postpartum period, with species-specific patterns differing from established equine models.

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