Influence of certain temperamental traits on the level of sex hormones in blood plasma of female Bull Terriers

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of certain temperamental characteristics on the level of sex hormones in the blood plasma of female Bull Terriers, an experiment was conducted with 15 female Bull Terriers. Pregnancy screening was performed on 21st–28th days after ovulation). The material for the study were blood plasma samples of bitches obtained at different stages of the sexual cycle, in which the levels of estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone were measured. The assessment of temperamental traits was performed at the design stage of the experiment using the standardized C BARQ methodology. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine the strength of the influence of individual temperament traits on the level of sex hormones in the blood plasma of bitches. According to the results of the experiment, it was found that the degree of fear and anxiety in bitches significantly affects the content of follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone in the blood plasma of bitches three days before, during and 120–150 days after the LH surge (ղ²ᵪ = 0.27–0.55 (P ≤ 0.05). The excitability of bitches affects the level of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone on the day of the LH surge — ղ²ᵪ = 0.32 (P ≤ 0.05). In addition, the level of excitability affects the level of progesterone on the 9th day after the surge — ղ²ᵪ = 0.35 (P ≤ 0.05) and the level of luteinizing hormone on the 2nd, 4th, 55th–60th days and after the LH surge — ղ²ᵪ = 0.26–0.43 (P ≤ 0.05). The degree of aggression affects the luteinizing hormone level two days after the surge and the progesterone level on 55th–60th days after the LH surge (ղ²ᵪ = 0.34–0.36; P ≤ 0.05). Training ability and obedience affect follicle stimulating hormone levels (the day before the surge, and on 4th, 9th, and 35th–40th days after the LH surge (ղ²ᵪ = 0.30–0.52; P ≤ 0.05), luteinizing hormone (on 9th day after LH surge, ղ²ᵪ = 0.54; P ≤ 0.01), and progesterone (on 35th–40th days after LH surge, ղ²ᵪ = 0.34; P ≤ 0.05)