Individual variation in cortisol responses to acute ‘on-back’ restraint in an outbred hamster (original) (raw)

Influence of restraint and isolation stress on plasma cortisol in male karakul sheep

2008

The investigation was carried out to study the effect of Restraint and Isolation Stress (RIS) on plasma cortisol hormonal profile in male Karakul sheep. To carry out the objectives of this study six apparently healthy male adult animals were subjected to restraint and isolation stress. The blood samples were collected and analysed at control or pre-stress condition and on 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of RIS, respectively. A highly significant (P≤0.01) effect of RIS on plasma cortisol with increasing trend was observed.

Influence of restraint and isolation stress (RIS) on plasma cortisol in female Karakul sheep

Veterinary Practitioner, 2012

The investigation was carried out to study the effect of Restraint and Isolation Stress (RIS) on plasma cortisol hormonal profile in male Karakul sheep. To carry out the objectives of this study six apparently healthy male adult animals were subjected to restraint and isolation stress. The blood samples were collected and analysed at control or pre-stress condition and on 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd day of RIS, respectively. A highly significant (P≤0.01) effect of RIS on plasma cortisol with increasing trend was observed.

Stress adaptation and adrenal activity in isolated and crowded rats

Physiology & Behavior, 1986

Stress adaptation and adrenal activity in isolated and crowded rats. PHYSIOL BEHAV 36(2) 217-221, 1986.-Socially reared male control rats (Co) were compared with crowded reared rats (Cr) and isolated reared rats (I). We assayed the adaptation to moderate stress (activity and defecation rate in open-field test) and to intensive stress sensitivity to restraint ulcer), so as the basal adrenal activity measuring basal values of corticosterone (R.I.A.) and fresh weight of adrenal and thymus glands. Results show a great lack of adaptation to moderate and intensive stress in Cr and I reared rats which leads to a decrease of activity variables, an increase of defecation rates and a high sensitivity to restraint ulcers. The effect of crowding conditions show higher values than isolation. We also found, in isolated and crowded reared rats, an increase in the adrenal function with great values for the basal secretion of corticosterone and atrophy of the thymus gland, besides which, crowded reared animals showed adrenal hypertrophy. Open-field test Restraint ulcers Stress adaptation Adrenal activity Corticosterone Crowding Isolation Rev Esp Endocrinol, in press.

Neuroendocrine Correlates of Separation Stress in the Siberian Dwarf Hamster ( Phodopus sungorus )

Physiology & Behavior, 1997

correlates of separation stress in the Siberian dwarf hamster (Phodopus sungorus). PHYSIOL BEHAV 61(4) 477-484, 1997.-Siberian dwarf hamsters form monogamous male-female pair bonds. Disruption of the pair bond results in increases in body mass and behavioral alterations similar to profiles seen in human atypical depression. We examined behavioral and neuroendocrine correlates associated with separation of the male from his mate. Animals were paired (n Å 28 pairs) for 3 weeks, then 15 pairs were separated and 13 pairs remained as controls. Behaviors of the males were observed in a novel environment following 3 weeks of pairing and 4 weeks of separation. The 5-min behavioral test monitored exploratory, territorial behavior, and locomotor activity. Separated males showed a significant increase in body mass (p õ 0.01), paralleled by an increase in food consumption (p õ 0.01). Separated males had decreased seminal vesicle mass (p õ 0.05) and testicular mass (p õ 0.05). Behavioral analysis revealed that separated males showed no significant differences in grooming, scent-marking, alert on 2 feet, or escape behavior when compared to paired males. Separated males did show significant increases in inactivity (p õ 0.05). Plasma cortisol levels were significantly increased in separated animals (p õ 0.05), but there were no significant effects on testosterone. Resting levels of plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine were less in separated males, but this was significant only for norepinephrine (p õ 0.05). In conclusion, separation stress was accompanied by increased hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axis function and decreased peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity and decreased reproductive profiles.

The effect of duration of manual restraint during blood sampling on plasma cortisol levels in calves.

Many studies on stress and pain rely, solely or mainly, on plasma cortisol assessment. Confounding factors, such as handling, may cause a release of cortisol making the interpretation of the results difficult. We looked at the influence of duration of restraint on the plasma cortisol levels of one-to-two month old calves. Forty-three calves were divided into four groups according to the interval between restraint and blood sampling: i) Group 0, immediate blood-sampling; ii) Group 0.5M, half a minute restraint; iii) Group 1M, one minute restraint and iv) Group 2M, two minutes restraint. The only increase in plasma cortisol, compared with all the other groups, was seen with blood sampling after two minutes of restraint. This study provides evidence to suggest that cortisol released as a result of handling stress is not evident if blood sampling is carried out within one minute of restraining calves.

Cortisol and prolactin concentrations during repeated blood sample collection from freely moving, mouse-sized mammals (Phodopus spp.)

Comparative medicine, 2000

Validation of a method for obtaining blood samples that does not change cortisol or prolactin concentrations yet allows serial blood samples to be collected from animals under anesthesia, without prior handling, from freely interacting social groups of small mammals. Results from five experiments are reported. Male dwarf hamsters (Phodopus spp.) were housed in modified home cages under continuous flow of compressed air that could be switched to isoflurane in O2 vehicle without approaching the cages. Dwarf hamsters respond to manual restraint with behavioral distress and increase in the concentration of the dominant glucocorticoid, cortisol, and decrease in prolactin concentration. Both effects are evident within one minute. In contrast, when this new method was used, neither cortisol nor prolactin changed in response to repeated sample collection (up to 8 successive samples at 2 hour intervals), prolonged isoflurane exposure, or substantial blood volume reduction (30%). Prolactin co...

Plasma cortisol and noradrenalin concentrations in pigs: automated sampling of freely moving pigs housed in the PigTurn® versus manually sampled and restrained pigs

Animal Welfare, 2012

Minimising the effects of restraint and human interaction on the endocrine physiology of animals is essential for collection of accurate physiological measurements. Our objective was to compare stress-induced cortisol (CORT) and noradrenalin (NorA) responses in automated vs manual blood sampling in pigs. A total of 16 pigs (30 kg) were assigned to either: (i) automated blood sampling via an indwelling catheter using a novel-penning system called PigTurn® which detects the pig's rotational movement and responds by counter-rotating, allowing free movement while preventing catheter twisting; (ii) automated sampling while exposed to visual and auditory responses of manually sampled pigs; or (iii) manual sampling by jugular venipuncture while pigs were restrained in dorsal recumbency. During sampling of (i), personnel were not permitted in the room; samplings of (ii) and (iii) were performed simultaneously in the same room. Blood samples were collected every 20 min for 120 min and measured for CORT (ng ml -1 ) using mass spectrometry and NorA (pg ml -1 ) using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Effects of treatment and time were computed with mixed models adjusted by Tukey post hoc CORT and NorA concentrations were lowest in group (i) followed by group (ii), which were not different. However, CORT and NorA levels in manually sampled animals (iii) were highest compared to automated methods (i) and (ii). Plasma concentrations across time were not different for CORT, but NorA concentration at time 0 min was higher than at 120 min. The presence of visual and auditory stimuli evoked by manual sampled animals did not affect non-handled pigs' responses. Restraint and manual sampling of pigs can be extremely stressful while the automated blood sampling of freely moving pigs, housed in the PigTurn® was significantly less stressful for the animals.

Stressor Specificity of Sex Differences in Hypothalamo-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity: Cortisol Responses to Exercise, Endotoxin, Wetting, and Isolation/Restraint Stress in Gonadectomized Male and Female Sheep

Endocrine Reviews, 2010

Sex differences in the stress-induced activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in sheep appear to be dependent on the stressor encountered and occur irrespective of the presence of gonadal steroids. We tested the hypotheses that cortisol responses to exercise, endotoxin, wetting (experiment 1), and isolation/restraint (experiment 2) stress differ between gonadectomized male and female sheep. At weekly intervals (in experiment 1), we subjected gonadectomized rams and ewes (n ϭ 6/group) to control conditions, to exercise stress, to iv injection of endotoxin, and to wetting stress. In a second experiment (experiment 2), we subjected gonadectomized rams and ewes (n ϭ 5/group) to control conditions or to isolation/restraint stress. In both experiments, we measured plasma concentrations of cortisol before, during, and after stress at a frequency of at least 15 min with samples collected (from an indwelling jugular catheter) at a greater frequency around the time of the stressor. Cortisol responses to wetting (experiment 1) and isolation/restraint (experiment 2) stress were significantly higher in females compared with males but in response to exercise (experiment 1) and endotoxin (experiment 1) stress, there were no differences between the sexes. For some stressors, there are sex differences in sheep in the stress-induced activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis that are independent of the presence of the sex steroids, but the existence of these sex differences and the direction of these sex differences differs, depending on the stressor imposed.