scholarly journals Assessment of the Stress Response in North American Deermice: Laboratory and Field Validation of Two Enzyme Immunoassays for Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1120
Author(s):  
Andreas Eleftheriou ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Rudy Boonstra
Keyword(s):  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Post Injection ◽  
Field Validation ◽  
Wildlife Ecology ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Enzyme Immunoassays ◽  
Fecal Cortisol ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Stress physiology is commonly employed in studies of wildlife ecology and conservation. Accordingly, we need robust and suitable methods to measure stress physiology in the field. Fecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) are now increasingly being used to non-invasively evaluate adrenocortical activity; a measure of stress physiology. However, immunoassays that measure FCMs must be appropriately validated prior to their use and factors that can influence FCMs, such as trap-induced stress, must be considered. Deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are widely used in scientific studies so that developing methods that appropriately measure their adrenocortical activity is critical. In the laboratory, we tested the suitability of two enzyme immunoassays (EIAs; a corticosterone EIA, and a group-specific 5α-pregnane-3β,11β,21-triol-20-one EIA) in deermice by challenging individuals with dexamethasone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). We found that dexamethasone suppressed FCM levels within ~10 h post injection whereas ACTH increased FCM levels within ~2 h post injection. In the field, we found that FCM levels generally increased with more time in trap confinement when using both EIAs. Although we acknowledge low sample sizes (N = 4), our results validated the two EIAs for use with FCMs from deermice.

scholarly journals Non-Invasive Monitoring of Adrenocortical Activity in Three Sympatric Desert Gerbil Species

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Álvaro Navarro-Castilla ◽  
Mario Garrido ◽  
Hadas Hawlena ◽  
Isabel Barja
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample ◽  
Post Injection ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Endocrine Status ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

The study of the endocrine status can be useful to understand wildlife responses to the changing environment. Here, we validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to non-invasively monitor adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in three sympatric gerbil species (Gerbillus andersoni, G. gerbillus and G. pyramidum) from the Northwestern Negev Desert’s sands (Israel). Animals included into treatment groups were injected with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate adrenocortical activity, while control groups received a saline solution. Feces were collected at different intervals and FCM were quantified by an EIA. Basal FCM levels were similar in the three species. The ACTH effect was evidenced, but the time of FCM peak concentrations appearance differed between the species (6–24 h post-injection). Furthermore, FCM peak values were observed sooner in G. andersoni females than in males (6 h and 18 h post-injection, respectively). G. andersoni and G. gerbillus males in control groups also increased FCM levels (18 h and 48 h post-injection, respectively). Despite the small sample sizes, our results confirmed the EIA suitability for analyzing FCM in these species as a reliable indicator of the adrenocortical activity. This study also revealed that close species, and individuals within a species, can respond differently to the same stressor.

scholarly journals Effect of Ground Transportation on Adrenocortical Activity in Prepuberal Female Mice from Five Different Genetic Backgrounds

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 239
Author(s):  
Sonja Rumpel ◽  
Christina Scholl ◽  
Anja Göbel ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Esther Mahabir
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Background ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Stressful Event ◽  
Research Facility ◽  
Embryo Production ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Experimental Protocols ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Specific experimental protocols necessitate transportation, a potentially stressful event that could confound results. We determined adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs), as a stress marker, in prepuberal (three-week old) female C57BL/6J, C57BL/6NCrl, FVB/NCrl, Crl:CD1(ICR), and BALB/cAnCrl mice. On each transport day, five female cage mates per genetic background were weaned and transported in stable groups via truck from the breeding to the research facility. Fecal pellets were collected on Days 0, 1, and 4. Mice were superovulated for embryo production to determine if repeated fecal collection impacts this procedure. The average duration of transportation over 600 km and from packing to unpacking of mice was 7.24 and 22.62 h, respectively. FCM levels increased from Day 0 to Day 1 and decreased on Day 4 in all genetic backgrounds except in FVB/NCrl, but only B6N showed significantly higher FCM levels on Day 1. Furthermore, embryo production was not affected by repeated feces collection. The results show that weaning and immediate transport of prepuberal mice from the breeding to the research facility led to temporal and genetic background-dependent increases of adrenocortical activity in four of the five genetic backgrounds investigated, which returned to baseline levels within four days.

scholarly journals No island-effect on glucocorticoid levels for a rodent from a near-shore archipelago

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e8590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan D. Stewart ◽  
Gabriela F. Mastromonaco ◽  
Gary Burness
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Island Effect ◽  
Near Shore ◽  
Thousand Islands ◽  
Island Syndrome ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Stress Biomarker ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Island rodents are often larger and live at higher population densities than their mainland counterparts, characteristics that have been referred to as “island syndrome”. Island syndrome has been well studied, but few studies have tested for island-mainland differences in stress physiology. We evaluated island syndrome within the context of stress physiology of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) captured from 11 islands and five mainland sites in Thousand Islands National Park, Ontario, Canada. Stress physiology was evaluated by quantifying corticosterone (a stress biomarker), the primary glucocorticoid in mice, from hair and its related metabolites from fecal samples. White-footed mice captured in this near-shore archipelago did not display characteristics of island syndrome, nor differences in levels of hair corticosterone or fecal corticosterone metabolites compared with mainland mice. We suggest that island white-footed mice experience similar degrees of stress in the Thousand Islands compared with the mainland. Although we did not find evidence of island syndrome or differences in glucocorticoid levels, we identified relationships between internal (sex, body mass) and external (season) factors and our hormonal indices of stress in white-footed mice.

scholarly journals ACTH Stimulation Induced Self-Mutilation Behavior in the Golden Conure (Guaruba guarouba)

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Anaya Sinhorini ◽  
Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto ◽  
Rupert Palme
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Disorders ◽  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Post Injection ◽  
Acth Stimulation ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Self Mutilation ◽  
Baseline Values ◽  
Second Peak

Psittacidae are very susceptible to chronic stress and behavioral disorders. Information regarding the endocrinology of the golden conure is scarce, especially about adrenocortical activity. Endocrine studies using non-invasive methods are useful, because they allow longitudinal analysis with high numbers of samples without causing additional stress and are viable in the psittacidae management. The objective was to physiologically validate an enzyme immunoassay for measuring glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in this species. Serial droppings were collected from 16 animals. First, one subgroup received adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; Synacthen Depót®) and the other group served as controls. This procedure was reversed afterwards. All birds presented self-mutilation approximately 6 h after the ACTH injection. This behavior disappeared after two days. Peak concentrations (on average nine times higher than baseline values) of GCMs were found 6 (4–8) h after ACTH administration; in all (but one) animals also a second peak was found 14 (10–20) h post injection. GCM levels returned to the baseline after 24 h. We physiologically validated a cortisone enzyme immunoassays to measure adrenocortical activity in the golden conure. Such non-invasive methods are important for studies, which are related to welfare, reproductive, and conservation programs. In addition, we could demonstrate a link between increased glucocorticoid levels and behavioral disorders.

scholarly journals No island-effect on stress for a rodent from a near-shore archipelago

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan D Stewart ◽  
Gabriela F Mastromonaco ◽  
Gary Burness
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Stress Hormone ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Island Effect ◽  
Near Shore ◽  
Thousand Islands ◽  
Island Syndrome ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Island rodents are often larger and live at higher population densities than their mainland counterparts, characteristics that have been referred to as “island syndrome”. Island syndrome has been well studied, but few studies have tested for island-mainland differences in stress physiology. We evaluated island syndrome within the context of stress physiology of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) captured from islands (n = 11) and mainland sites (n = 5) in Thousand Islands National Park, Ontario, Canada. Stress physiology was evaluated by quantifying corticosterone, the primary glucocorticoid (stress hormone) of rodents, from hair and its related metabolites from fecal samples. White-footed mice captured in this near-shore archipelago did not display characteristics of island syndrome, nor differences in levels of hair corticosterone or fecal corticosterone metabolites compared with mainland mice. We suggest that island white-footed mice experience similar degrees of stress in the Thousand Islands compared with the mainland. Although we did not find evidence of island syndrome or accompanying changes to stress physiology, we identified relationships between internal (sex, body mass) and external (season) factors and our hormonal indices of stress in white-footed mice.

scholarly journals No island-effect on stress for a rodent from a near-shore archipelago

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan D Stewart ◽  
Gabriela F Mastromonaco ◽  
Gary Burness
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Stress Physiology ◽  
Stress Hormone ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Island Effect ◽  
Near Shore ◽  
Thousand Islands ◽  
Island Syndrome ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Island rodents are often larger and live at higher population densities than their mainland counterparts, characteristics that have been referred to as “island syndrome”. Island syndrome has been well studied, but few studies have tested for island-mainland differences in stress physiology. We evaluated island syndrome within the context of stress physiology of white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) captured from islands (n = 11) and mainland sites (n = 5) in Thousand Islands National Park, Ontario, Canada. Stress physiology was evaluated by quantifying corticosterone, the primary glucocorticoid (stress hormone) of rodents, from hair and its related metabolites from fecal samples. White-footed mice captured in this near-shore archipelago did not display characteristics of island syndrome, nor differences in levels of hair corticosterone or fecal corticosterone metabolites compared with mainland mice. We suggest that island white-footed mice experience similar degrees of stress in the Thousand Islands compared with the mainland. Although we did not find evidence of island syndrome or accompanying changes to stress physiology, we identified relationships between internal (sex, body mass) and external (season) factors and our hormonal indices of stress in white-footed mice.

scholarly journals Frequent serial fecal corticoid measures from rats reflect circadian and ovarian corticosterone rhythms

2005 ◽  
Vol 184 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
S A Cavigelli ◽  
S L Monfort ◽  
T K Whitney ◽  
Y S Mechref ◽  
M Novotny ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Temporal Acuity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Laboratory Rodents ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Single Animal ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
Luteinizing Hormone Surge ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

The circadian glucocorticoid rhythm provides important information on the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in individuals. Frequent repeated blood sampling can limit the kinds of studies conducted on this rhythm, particularly in small laboratory rodents that have limited blood volumes and are easily stressed by handling. We developed an extraction and assay protocol to measure fecal corticosterone metabolites in repeated samples collected from undisturbed male and female adult Sprague–Dawley rats. This fecal measure provides a non-invasive method to assess changes in corticosterone within a single animal over time, with sufficient temporal acuity to quantify several characteristics of the circadian rhythm: e.g. the nadir, acrophase, and asymmetry (saw-tooth) of the rhythm. Males excreted more immunoreactive fecal corticoids than did females. Across the estrous cycle, females produced more fecal corticoids on proestrus (the day of the preovulatory luteinizing hormone surge) than during estrus or metestrus. These results establish a baseline from which to study environmental, psychological, and physiological disturbances of the circadian corticosterone rhythm within individual rats.

Stimulation of gastric proteases in the neonatal pig by a rise in adrenocortical secretion at parturition

1995 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1293 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Sangild
Keyword(s):  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Late Gestation ◽  
Cortisol Secretion ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Pepsinogen A ◽  
Newborn Pigs ◽  
Neonatal Pig ◽  
Stimulation Of

In many species adrenocortical activity and glucocorticoid secretion increase in late gestation and reach a peak at birth. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that glucocorticoids stimulate the synthesis of gastric protease zymogens in the perinatal period of pigs. Pigs were delivered by Caesarean section 3-4 days prior to term (to circumvent the natural cortisol surge) and treated daily with either saline (n = 11), metyrapone (an inhibitor of cortisol synthesis, n = 12), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, n = 14) or cortisol-acetate (n = 6). The pigs were killed at 3 or 6-7 days of age and concentrations of protease zymogens in gastric mucosal extracts determined by electroimmunoassay. Zymogen contents were also determined in control (untreated) pigs from one week before birth to four weeks after birth. In control pigs, concentration of prochymosin increased rapidly before term, peaked at birth, and decreased in the postnatal period; concentrations of pepsinogen A, pepsinogen B and progastricsin were low in newborn pigs and increased in the weeks after birth. Caesarean-delivered pigs injected with saline had lower concentrations of prochymosin and pepsinogen A at 6-7 days than vaginally delivered pigs of the same postnatal age. The concentrations of these zymogens were further reduced after metyrapone treatment (depressed cortisol secretion) but were increased after treatment with ACTH (stimulated cortisol secretion) or cortisol-acetate (exogenous glucocorticoid). No consistent effects were observed for the two minor gastric protease zymogens in the pig, pepsinogen B and progastricsin. The results suggest that the normal pre-partum surge in circulating cortisol stimulates the development of the major gastric protease zymogens in the pig, prochymosin and pepsinogen A.

Physiological validation of a non-invasive method to evaluate adrenocortical activity and the time course for the excretion of stress hormones in the feces of three species of desert gerbils

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin R. St. Juliana ◽  
Jocelyn L. Bryant ◽  
Nadja Wielebnowski ◽  
Burt P. Kotler
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽  
Desert Rodents ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
Time Frames

We evaluated the suitability of a corticosterone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to monitor excretion of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) in response to Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and saline injections in three desert rodent species (Gerbillus andersoni allenbyi (GA), Gerbillus nanus (GN), and Gerbilis piridium (GP). We exposed 24 gerbils (N = 9 for GA, N = 7 for GN, N = 8 for GP) to an ACTH and a saline injection at different times. Fecal samples were collected hourly for 24 hours after injection. The average starting concentration (baseline) FGM concentration was 797 ng/g for GA, 183 ng/g for GN, and 749 ng/g for GP. The average peak concentration was 2377 ng/g for GA, 589 ng/g for GN, and 1987 ng/g for GP. We were able to provide a physiological validation for the chosen assay in GAs and GPs, however, our results for GNs were less clear. We found an increase in FGM concentrations on average after 5.5 hours in GA, 3.1 hours in GN, and 3.8 hours in GP. We found a peak in FGM concentration on average after 8.8 hours in GA, 5.6 hours in GN, and 10.3 hours in GP. We determined that FGM concentration returned to starting value on average after 14.4 hours in GA, 9.1 hours in GN, and 15.1 hours in GP. The outcomes of this study can help establish trapping protocols and time frames for FGM monitoring of these wild small mammal populations. The time course for excretion of FGM is similar between the species in this study, and comparable to some non-desert rodents. We found high variation in the time course of excretion within species. This variation needs to be taken into account when monitoring stress responses in the field. By assessing adrenocortical activity using FGM monitoring, stress responses to varying ecological and environmental factors can be reliably examined in the field.

scholarly journals The Effect of Transport Stress on Corticosterone Metabolites in Pheasant Droppings

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Volfova ◽  
Zuzana Machovcova ◽  
Pavel Forejtek ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Iveta Bedanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Immunoassay ◽  
Health Protection ◽  
Phasianus Colchicus ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Transport Stress ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

Abstract BackgroundTransport has been proven to represent a significant stressor for animals. In view of the fact that pheasants are frequently reared in captivity in hatcheries and are then transported for the purpose of their sale or release, it is essential from the viewpoint of welfare and health protection to obtain as much information as possible about their response to this stressor. The aim of this study was to assess changes in corticosterone metabolite (CM) levels related to transport in common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). MethodsSixteen birds aged 17 weeks were crated and transported for 3.5 hours (distance travelled 140 km) to the target customer. Individual droppings were collected during the 2 days prior to transport and 3 days after transport. Concentrations of faecal CMs were determined with a non-commercial EIA (enzyme-immunoassay) kit, cortisone was used as a standard and values were expressed as cortisone equivalents in ng per g of droppings. ResultsTransport represents a major stressor for animals and this was also reflected in increased CM concentrations in the droppings in our study. CM concentrations increased within 24 hours of transport (P < 0.01) as compared to pre-transport levels (533.82 ng/g vs. 228.85 ng/g) and continued to rise for another 24 hours (745.35 ng/g). Three days after transport CM concentrations fell back to baseline levels (297.97 ng/g). ConclusionsThe EIA used in this study proved to be sensitive enough to detect biologically meaningful alterations in the adrenocortical activity of pheasants exposed to procedures related to their transport.

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