02811naa a2200373 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006002400410007410000180011524501340013326000090026750004140027652012980069065000210198865000110200965000240202065300190204465300130206365300320207665300220210865300170213065300100214765300380215770000170219570000130221270000120222570000160223770000170225370000170227070000170228770000170230477301160232110644782024-02-28       2024    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a0739-72407 a10.1016/j.domaniend.2023.1068372DOI1 aDAMIÁN, J.P.  aSexual behaviour of young rams is improved and less stressful after intranasal administration of oxytocin.h[electronic resource]  c2024  aArticle history: Received 17 October 2023; Received in revised form 23 December 2023; Accepted 25 December 2023; Available online 28 December 2023; To be Published April 2024. -- Correspondence: Damián, J.P.; Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias and Núcleo de Bienestar Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Ruta 8 km 18, CP, Montevideo, Uruguay; email:jpablodamian@gmail.com --  aABSTRACT.- The aim of this study was to determine if intranasal administration of oxytocin modifies sexual behaviour and the stress response in young rams during sexual tests with ewes in oestrus. Ten rams were used in a cross-over design. At Day 0, the control group (CG, n = 5) received isotonic saline spray intranasally, and the treated group (OTG, n = 5) received oxytocin (24 IU) intranasally, 40 min before the sexual test. At Day 15, the groups were reversed. In each sexual test (20 min) with an oestrous-induced ewe, the sexual behaviour of the young rams was recorded. Serum cortisol concentrations were determined before and after the test. Less flehmen was observed in the OTG, but mounts with ejaculation were increased. The OTG presented lower serum cortisol concentration than the CG. In conclusion, intranasal administration of oxytocin modified the sexual behaviour of rams, evidenced by a decrease in flehmen behaviour and an increase in mounts with ejaculation, making sexual activity more efficacious. In addition, the treatment decreased the stress response of the rams in the sexual tests. Therefore, intranasal administration of oxytocin could be used to increase sexual activity in rams, and with less stress, providing better welfare conditions. © 2023 Elsevier Inc.  aBIENESTAR ANIMAL  aOVINOS  aREPRODUCCION ANIMAL  aAnimal welfare  aCortisol  aEstrumate (Drug tradenames)  aHormone treatment  aReproduction  aSheep  aSISTEMA GANADERO EXTENSIVO - INIA1 aCASTILLO, L.1 aPONS, V.1 aGIL, J.1 aSUÁREZ, G.1 aTERRAZAS, A.1 aGONZALEZ, D.1 aVAN LIER, E.1 aBANCHERO, G.  tDomestic Animal Endocrinology. 2024, Volume 87, Article 106837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2023.106837