Abstract
Serum prolactin (PRL) and cortisol levels were determined in sheep of the Marwari breed from arid tracts in Rajasthan state, India to assess the role of serum PRL as an indicator of stress. Serum levels of PRL and cortisol were determined by radioimmunoassay in healthy and affected sheep (haemonchus infected, pneumonia affected, having enterotoxaemia and drought affected). The affected group showed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher levels of serum PRL and cortisol when compared to the healthy group. The mean rise in PRL was 4.72 times, whereas cortisol levels were 4.28 times higher. In the affected group, a significant (p ≤ 0.05) correlation was observed between the values of serum PRL and cortisol. A multiple fold rise in serum PRL clearly suggested that it can be used as an indicator of stress in different pathologies in sheep.
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