Stress response of cougars to nonlethal pursuit by hunters

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry J. Harlow ◽  
Frederick G. Lindzey ◽  
Walter D. Van Sickle ◽  
William A. Gern
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Physiological Response ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
The Other ◽  
Response Test ◽  
Felis Concolor ◽  
Adrenal Response ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Five cougars (Felis concolor) were captured and an adrenal response test was administered by injecting synthetic adrenocorticotropic hormone and monitoring plasma cortisol levels at 15-min intervals for 120 min. Three were selected for treatment and chased 5 or 6 more times to simulate the stress they might experience during a pursuit-only season; the other two served as controls and were chased only once more, at recapture. The adrenal response test was administered again at recapture. The cougars in the treatment group had a lowered plasma cortisol profile after the simulated pursuit season, indicating an altered physiological response of the adrenals to the stress of repeated chases.

scholarly journals Effects of infusions of ACTH in the chronically catheterized pregnant ewe and her fetus

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (2) ◽  
pp. R445-R452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenie R. Lumbers ◽  
C. Bernasconi ◽  
J. H. Burrell
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Blood Gases ◽  
The Other ◽  
Blood Gas ◽  
Fetal Blood ◽  
Fetal Plasma ◽  
Induced Hypertension ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
Pregnant Ewe

To study the effects of elevated maternal levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on the fetus, nine chronically catheterized pregnant ewes (132 ± 0.9 days of gestation) were infused intravenously for 3 days with Synacthen (5 μg ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ day−1). Four ewes were given 0.15 M saline intravenously over the same period. ACTH induced hypertension in the ewe. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased from 101 ± 4.4 to 114 ± 3.9 mmHg at 48 h ( P < 0.05); cardiac output increased from 8.6 ± 0.5 to 10.4 ± 1.0 l/min after 24 h ( P < 0.05). Within 2–4 h, maternal cortisol levels increased from 24.6 ± 6.3 to 287 ± 30 nM ( P < 0.05) and remained high. Fetal plasma cortisol levels increased from 20 ± 4.5 to 60 ± 4.5 nM ( P < 0.05) within 2–4 h and then increased further. Fetal MAP was increased at 24 h. There was no effect on fetal blood gases or pH. Ewes became hyperglycemic and lactacidemic by 24 h ( P < 0.05), and the fetuses were also hyperglycemic and lactacidemic ( P < 0.05) at this time. There were no changes in fetuses carried by saline-infused ewes. Both ewes and fetuses had raised plasma osmolalities and, since hematocrit fell, retained fluid. Ewes became hypokalemic; the fetuses did not, but there was an increase in fetal K excretion. Thus ACTH-induced hypertension in the ewe had minimal effects on fetal MAP, fetal blood gas status, and pH. The fetus, however, did show many of the other effects of maternal glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid excess, partly because its cortisol levels were increased but also as a consequence of metabolic and endocrine changes in the ewe.

scholarly journals Dietary l-tryptophan leaves a lasting impression on the brain and the stress response

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (10) ◽  
pp. 1351-1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Höglund ◽  
Øyvind Øverli ◽  
Madelene Å. Andersson ◽  
Patricia Silva ◽  
Danielle Caroline Laursen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Vertebrate Lineage ◽  
Stress Responsiveness ◽  
Treated Fish ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
The Brain

AbstractComparative models suggest that effects of dietary tryptophan (Trp) on brain serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) neurochemistry and stress responsiveness are present throughout the vertebrate lineage. Moreover, hypothalamic 5-HT seems to play a central role in control of the neuroendocrine stress axis in all vertebrates. Still, recent fish studies suggest long-term effects of dietary Trp on stress responsiveness, which are independent of hypothalamic 5-HT. Here, we investigated if dietary Trp treatment may result in long-lasting effects on stress responsiveness, including changes in plasma cortisol levels and 5-HT neurochemistry in the telencephalon and hypothalamus of Atlantic salmon. Fish were fed diets containing one, two or three times the Trp content in normal feed for 1 week. Subsequently, fish were reintroduced to control feed and were exposed to acute crowding stress for 1 h, 8 and 21 d post Trp treatment. Generally, acute crowding resulted in lower plasma cortisol levels in fish treated with 3×Trp compared with 1×Trp- and 2×Trp-treated fish. The same general pattern was reflected in telencephalic 5-HTergic turnover, for which 3×Trp-treated fish showed decreased values compared with 2×Trp-treated fish. These long-term effects on post-stress plasma cortisol levels and concomitant 5-HT turnover in the telencephalon lends further support to the fact that the extrahypothalamic control of the neuroendocrine stress response is conserved within the vertebrate lineage. Moreover, they indicate that trophic/structural effects in the brain underlie the effects of dietary Trp treatment on stress reactivity.

The effect of environment on behavioural activity, ACTH, β-endorphin and cortisol in pre-farrowing gilts

1996 ◽  
Vol 1996 ◽  
pp. 35-35
Author(s):  
S Jarvis ◽  
AB Lawrence ◽  
KA McLean ◽  
L Deans ◽  
J Chirnside ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Behavioural Activity ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Previous work has suggested that gilts housed in a crated environment, without bedding, are more physiologically stressed over the pre-parturient period as characterised by elevated cortisol levels (Lawrence et al, 1994) compared to those housed in a straw bedded pen. β-endorphin and Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) are released concomitantly from the adenohypophysis (Guillemin et al, 1977) and have been shown to increase during parturition in humans (Fajardo et al, 1994), with ACTH being involved in the stress response, and β-endorphin possibly playing a role in an endogenous defence against the pain of parturition. This study aimed to demonstrate the pre-parturient changes in these plasma hormonal concentrations and activity levels in relation to two different farrowing environments.

scholarly journals Tail Docking of Piglets 1: Stress Response of Piglets to Tail Docking

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Morrison ◽  
Paul Hemsworth
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Treatment Duration ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Total Plasma ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Tail Docking

This experiment compared the stress responses of piglets to tail docking. Two hundred and eighty-eight piglets were allocated to the following treatments at 2 d post-farrowing: (1) sham handling treatment; (2) surgical castration; (3) tail docking using clippers; (4) tail docking using a cauterising iron. Blood samples were collected at 15 min, 30 min and 24 h post-treatment and analysed for total plasma cortisol. Behaviours indicative of pain, such as escape attempts, vocalisations and standing with head lowered were measured. Cortisol concentrations at 15 min post-treatment were higher (p < 0.001) in the tail docking and castration treatment groups than the sham handling treatment group, but at 30 min post-treatment, only the clipper and castration treatment groups had higher (p < 0.001) cortisol concentrations than the sham handling treatment. Duration of vocalisations and escape attempts were greater (p < 0.0001) during the castration treatment than the sham and tail docking treatments, but these behaviours occurred less (p < 0.05) in tail-docked piglets than those that were castrated. Piglets undergoing the tail-docked treatments and the castration treatment exhibited more behaviours indicative of pain, such as standing longer (p < 0.05) with the head lowered in the 60 min after treatment, than those in the sham handling treatment group. There were no treatment effects on cortisol concentrations and behaviour at 23–24 h post-treatment. The physiological results at 30 min post-treatment indicate that tail docking with cauterisation may be less aversive than tail docking with clippers.

The effect of repeated handling on the stress response of sheep to handling

1989 ◽  
Vol 1989 ◽  
pp. 110-110
Author(s):  
A.L. Hargreaves ◽  
G.D. Hutson
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Physiological Response ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Cortisol Response ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Peak Response ◽  
Management Procedure

The stimuli which are most potent in eliciting a stress response to handling are often part of the management procedure itself (eg wool removal during shearing). If sheep handling is to be made less stressful, then alternative methods may have to be found which do not interfere with the procedure. Such alternatives may involve altering either the context in which sheep undergo handling procedures, or their experience of handling. This study tested whether repetition could modify the physiological response of sheep to handling.Twenty three-year-old Merino wethers were sham shorn four times at intervals of two weeks. Sham shearing involves the noise and physical manipulations of shearing, but no wool is removed, allowing the procedure to be repeated. Two blood samples were collected via jugular catheters before sham shearing and eight were taken over the following eighty minutes. There were significant increases in haematocrit and plasma Cortisol after each exposure (p < 0.05). The Cortisol response to sham shearing was reduced by the previous experiences of the procedure (p < 0.05). This was manifested more in a diminution of the basal concentrations (23.34 ± 5.26 ng/ ml to 9.84 ± 5.50 ng/ml; n = 19) rather than a decline of the peak response (63.29 ± 5.50 ng/ml to 56.54 ± 7.25 ng/ml). There was no difference between the first and fourth exposures in the overall haematocrit response or in maximum haematocrit (33.3 ± 0.7% and 31.34 ± 0.9%; n = 17), however basal haematocrit was lower (p < 0.05) after the fourth exposure than it was after the first (23.6 ± 0.6% and 26.22 ± 0.8%) respectively.

Impaired cortisol secretion in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from lakes contaminated by heavy metals: in vivo and in vitro assessment

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 2752-2758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie C Brodeur ◽  
Graham Sherwood ◽  
Joseph B Rasmussen ◽  
Alice Hontela
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Yellow Perch ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Perca Flavescens ◽  
Contaminated Site ◽  
Cortisol Levels

The characteristic elevation of plasma cortisol levels in response to an acute stress of capture was impaired in both male and female yellow perch (Perca flavescens) from lakes contaminated by heavy metals. The impairment of the cortisol stress response was observed in fish 4 + years and older whereas the capacity to elevate plasma cortisol levels of fish younger than 4 + was not significantly different at contaminated and reference sites. The responsiveness to ACTH of the interrenal tissue of 4 + yellow perch was evalutated in vitro to determine whether the impairment of the cortisol stress response is caused by a dysfunction of the interrenal tissue or if the dysfunction is located elsewhere in the hypothalamo-pituitary-interrenal axis controlling the secretion of cortisol. The amount of cortisol secreted by the interrenal tissue of yellow perch from a contaminated site in response to a 10-min stimulation with 10-7 M ACTH was significantly lower compared with fish from the reference site. These results indicate that the impairment of the cortisol stress response observed in fish from polluted sites is caused, at least in part, by a dysfunction of the interrenal tissue.

scholarly journals Higher levels of salivary α-amylase predict failure of cessation efforts in male smokers

2010 ◽  
pp. 765-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dušková ◽  
K Šimůnková ◽  
M Hill ◽  
H Hruškovičová ◽  
P Hoskovcová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
The Other ◽  
Active Smoking ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Study Support ◽  
Cortisol Levels

The ability to predict the success or failure of smoking cessation efforts will be useful for clinical practice. Stress response is regulated by two primary neuroendocrine systems. Salivary cortisol has been used as a marker for the hypothalamuspituitary-adrenocortical axis and salivary α-amylase as a marker for the sympathetic adrenomedullary system. We studied 62 chronic smokers (34 women and 28 men with an average age of 45.2±12.9 years). The levels of salivary cortisol and salivary α-amylase were measured during the period of active smoking, and 6 weeks and 24 weeks after quitting. We analyzed the men separately from the women. The men who were unsuccessful in cessation showed significantly higher levels of salivary α-amylase over the entire course of the cessation attempt. Before stopping smoking, salivary cortisol levels were higher among the men who were unsuccessful in smoking cessation. After quitting, there were no differences between this group and the men who were successful in cessation. In women we found no differences between groups of successful and unsuccessful ex-smokers during cessation. In conclusions, increased levels of salivary αamylase before and during smoking cessation may predict failure to quit in men. On the other hand, no advantage was found in predicting the failure to quit in women. The results of our study support previously described gender differences in smoking cessation.

ROLE OF TESTOSTERONE IN THE SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF ADRENAL ACTIVITY AT PUBERTY IN THE GUINEA-PIG

1980 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. EL HANI ◽  
M. DALLE ◽  
P. DELOST
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Guinea Pigs ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Metabolic Clearance ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
Adrenal Response ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Sexual dimorphism in adrenal activity appeared during the pubertal period of the guinea-pig with plasma levels and binding of cortisol lower in male guinea-pigs compared with female, and metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of cortisol higher in male than in female animals. Gonadectomy of female guinea-pigs did not change the values of the parameters regulating adrenal activity. Castration of male guinea-pigs caused a rise in plasma cortisol levels by increasing the binding capacity of transcortin for cortisol and by decreasing cortisol MCR. Treatment of females with testosterone from day 24 produced a drop on day 50 in plasma cortisol levels following a decreased binding capacity of transcortin for cortisol and at the same time as cortisol MCR increased. Furthermore, the adrenal response to stress was higher in castrated than in control males and lower in testosterone-treated females compared with control females. Testosterone appeared to be the hormone responsible for sexual dimorphism in adrenal activity in the pubertal guinea-pig.

scholarly journals Fluctuation of Plasma Cortisol Levels in Multiple Sclerosis

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
F. M. Butterworth ◽  
G. E. Ristow ◽  
E. Collarini
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
The Other ◽  
The Status ◽  
Cortisol Levels ◽  
One Year ◽  
The One ◽  
Active Patients ◽  
Active Multiple Sclerosis

SummaryUsing radioimmunoassay, the levels of plasma cortisol of 23 patients with multiple sclerosis and 10 control subjects were determined at three or more times over a one-year period. The status of the disease was ascertained by neurological examination at the same time. Twelve of the patients were considered stable because they showed no changes in their disease status during the year. The remaining 11 patients were designated active since each had one or more relapses. The levels of cortisol of the control and stable groups remained relatively constant during the one-year period, but the levels of the active group fluctuated significantly more than either of the other two groups. Furthermore the active patients who had more than one episode had the greatest fluctuation in their cortisol levels. The fluctuations could indicate some endocrinologie al aberration in patients with active multiple sclerosis or may be secondary to the influence of the disease.

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