scholarly journals Additional Assessment of Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites Improves Visual Rating in the Evaluation of Stress Responses of Laboratory Rats

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 710
Author(s):  
Tina Kroll ◽  
Nikola Kornadt-Beck ◽  
Angela Oskamp ◽  
David Elmenhorst ◽  
Chadi Touma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Male Adult ◽  
Assessment Scores ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

Since animal experiments cannot be completely avoided, the pain, suffering, and distress of laboratory animals must be minimized. To this end, a major prerequisite is reliable assessment of pain and distress. Usually, evaluation of animal welfare is done by visual inspection and score sheets. However, relatively little is known about whether standardized, but subjective, score sheets are able to reliably reflect the status of the animals. The current study aimed to compare visual assessment scores and changes in body weight with concentrations of fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) in a neuroscientific experimental setup. Additionally, effects of refinement procedures were investigated. Eight male adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent several experimental interventions, including electroencephalograph electrode implantation and subsequent recording, positron emission tomography (PET), and sleep deprivation (SD) by motorized activity wheels. Additional 16 rats were either used as controls without any treatment or to evaluate refinement strategies. Stress responses were determined on a daily basis by means of measuring FCMs, body weight, and evaluation of the animals’ welfare by standardized score sheets. Surgery provoked a significant elevation of FCM levels for up to five days. Increases in FCMs due to PET procedures or SD in activity wheels were also highly significant, while visual assessment scores did not indicate elevated stress levels and body weights remained constant. Visual assessment scores correlate with neither changes in body weight nor increases in FCM levels. Habituation procedures to activity wheels used for SD had no impact on corticosterone release. Our results revealed that actual score sheets for visual assessment of animal welfare did not mirror physiological stress responses assessed by FCM measurements. Moreover, small changes in body weight did not correlate with FCM concentration either. In conclusion, as visual assessment is a method allowing immediate interventions on suffering animals to alleviate burden, timely stress assessment in experimental rodents via score sheets should be ideally complemented by validated objective measures (e.g., fecal FCM measured by well-established assays for reliable detection of FCMs). This will complete a comprehensive appraisal of the animals’ welfare status in a retrospective manner and refine stressor procedures in the long run.

scholarly journals Comparison of experimental wound healing in quail using two types of commercial hemostatic dressings

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-152
Author(s):  
Tainá M. P. Chiquito ◽  
Margarete K. Falbo ◽  
Rafael V. Soares ◽  
Roberta A. Marcondes ◽  
Jayme A. Peres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Leukocyte Count ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Total Leukocyte Count ◽  
Expected Time ◽  
Post Procedure ◽  
Superficial Skin ◽  
Hemostatic Dressing ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

The use of powdered hemostatic products and propolis-based preparations has become increasingly common to control bleeding and aid healing. This study evaluated two hemostatic dressings, one based on propolis (Alveolex®) and the other on ferric subsulfate powder (Quick Blood Stopper®), on experimental wound in quails. The experiment was conducted with 36 quails assigned to three groups: control, propolis-based hemostatic dressing and ferric subsulfate-based hemostatic dressing, on two types of wounds, superficial (skin and subcutaneous) and deep (skin, subcutaneous and muscle). Pre- (day-7) and post-procedure (days 2 and 10) examinations showed a tendency to reduce hematocrit values on day 2 and a tendency to increase fibrinogen levels and total leukocyte count on the same day. Visual assessment of wound healing indicated that birds using Quick Blood Stopper® showed signs of poor healing, while the group treated with Alveolex® had uncomplicated healing within the expected time. The groups treated with hemostatic based on ferric subsulfate showed a tendency to increase the values of fecal corticosterone metabolites on day 10, suggesting an increased level of stress in these animals. During the surgical procedure, both hemostatic products controlled bleeding, but Alveolex®was more efficient and easy to handle.

Geographic Variation in Behavior of a Primate Taxon: Stress Responses as a Proximate Mechanism in the Evolution of Social Behavior

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Boinski
Keyword(s):  
Stress Response ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Inclusive Fitness ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Proximate Mechanism

Temperament is a complex behavioral trait that describes characteristic patterns of response to environmental, particularly social, conditions and perturbations. Disparities in the tendency to approach or avoid novelty or readiness to engage in aggressive interactions have been documented in comparisons between species (Christian 1970), subspecies (Gonzalez et al. 1981), populations within species (Champoux et al. 1994), inbred lines of laboratory animals (Scott and Fuller 1965), domesticated versus wild populations (Price 1984), and individuals within a species (Benus et al. 1992). Differences in physiological stress response systems (Selye 1937) are commonly identified as an important proximate mechanism underlying these temperament differences (Huntingford and Turner 1987, Kagan et al. 1988). Social systems of animals are perceived as emerging from relationships between individuals (Hinde 1983). Individual interactions, in turn, are hypothesized to reflect individual behavioral strategies which maximize inclusive fitness (Silk 1987). Selection on a physiological system, which can dramatically affect the pattern and outcomes of individual interactions, could produce evolutionary change in social organization and social behavior. Many workers explicitly suggest that temperament differences among primate species are adaptive in many instances, yet admit that the specific ecological and social selection pressures to which the neuroendocrine system is responding are often unclear (Thierry 1985, Clarke et al. 1988, Richard et al. 1989). Species-level comparisons have not offered many testable comparative models, probably because of confounding effects such as large phylogentic distances or uncertain phylogeny, inadequate knowledge of ecological and social conditions in the wild, drift, and convergent evolution. In short, little progress has been made toward understanding the evolution of stress-response patterns in primates. In this chapter I suggest that comparisons of geographically and genetically separated primate populations or subspecies may be an alternative and more successful approach to addressing the evolution of stress responses and the disparate social behaviors that result. Population and geographic comparisons are likely to be profitable for three reasons: (1) comparisons are less likely to be confounded by phylogenetic disparities (Arnold 1992), (2) the factors imposing different selective regimes among localities can perhaps be more readily identified, (3) hypothesis testing may be facilitated because populations suitable for testing a model will be easier to identify than new species.

Emotions and health: The impact of emotions, emotions regulation, music, and acculturation on health

2008 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Bongard ◽  
Volker Hodapp ◽  
Sonja Rohrmann
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Anger Expression ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Cardiovascular Stress ◽  
Expression Behavior ◽  
Cardio Vascular ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Our unit investigates the relationship of emotional processes (experience, expression, and coping), their physiological correlates and possible health outcomes. We study domain specific anger expression behavior and associated cardio-vascular loads and found e.g. that particularly an open anger expression at work is associated with greater blood pressure. Furthermore, we demonstrated that women may be predisposed for the development of certain mental disorders because of their higher disgust sensitivity. We also pointed out that the suppression of negative emotions leads to increased physiological stress responses which results in a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. We could show that relaxation as well as music activity like singing in a choir causes increases in the local immune parameter immunoglobuline A. Finally, we are investigating connections between migrants’ strategy of acculturation and health and found e.g. elevated cardiovascular stress responses in migrants when they where highly adapted to the German culture.

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 The impact of huts on physiological stress: a refinement in post-transport housing of male guineapigs (Cavia porcellus)

2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 220-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry L Walters ◽  
Cristobal Jose Torres-Urbano ◽  
Lee Chichester ◽  
Robert E Rose
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Cortisol Concentration ◽  
Experimental Science ◽  
Housing Environment ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Animal Use ◽  
Acclimatization Period ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Ideal

The ideal animal model would contribute no confounding variables in experimental science. Variables affect experimental design resulting in increased animal use or repeated studies. We demonstrated a simple refinement which may reduce the number of animals used experimentally while simultaneously improving animal welfare. The objective of this study was to determine if the presence of a hut was an impact on physiological stress levels, as determined by faecal cortisol concentration, during a routine four-day acclimatization period of newly received male Hartley-Outbred guineapigs. We hypothesized that those animals provided with huts would have decreased physiological stress compared with animals not provided with huts. We examined this effect within both paired and single-housed animals. A between-subjects one-way analysis of variance revealed that pair-housed animals with a hut had significantly lower faecal cortisol concentration than pair-housed animals without a hut and the presence and absence of a hut had no significant impact on faecal cortisol concentration in single-housed animals. These findings show that presence of a hut is beneficial in reducing physiological stress when pair housing male guineapigs and does not appear to have an impact when single housing male guineapigs. In addition, we have shown that faecal cortisol, and therefore physiological stress, is still increasing on study day 4 suggesting a longer acclimatization period is necessary. A simple refinement in housing environment and acclimatization time can both reduce the number of animals used experimentally and improve animal welfare.

Associations between multisystem stress reactivity and peer nominated aggression in early childhood vary by sex

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 1888-1898
Author(s):  
Melissa J. Hagan ◽  
Danielle S. Roubinov ◽  
W. Thomas Boyce ◽  
Nicole R. Bush
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Relational Aggression ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Physical Aggression ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Kindergarten Children ◽  
Peer Ratings ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Physiological Stress Response

AbstractThere is emerging evidence that the development of problematic aggression in childhood may be associated with specific physiological stress response patterns, with both biological overactivation and underactivation implicated. This study tested associations between sex-specific patterns of stress responses across the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and peer nominations of aggression among 271 kindergarten children (Mean age = 5.32 years; 52% Female; 44% White). Upon entry to kindergarten, children participated in a multidomain standardized stress paradigm. Changes in pre-ejection period (PEP) and salivary cortisol were assessed. On a separate day, children provided peer ratings of physical and relational aggression in a standardized interview. As expected, there was a significant three-way interaction between PEP, cortisol reactivity, and sex, but only for physical aggression. Among boys, cortisol reactivity was positively associated with physical aggression only for those with higher SNS reactivity. Findings suggest that for boys, asymmetrical and symmetrical HPA/SNS reactivity may be associated with lower and higher risk for peer-directed physical aggression, respectively. Understanding the complex associations between multisystem physiology, child sex and peer-directed aggression in early childhood may offer insight into individual differences underlying the emergence of behavioral dysregulation in early peer contexts.

Animal Pain Scales in Public Policy

1990 ◽  
Vol 18 (1_part_1) ◽  
pp. 41-50
Author(s):  
F. Barbara Orlans
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pain Scale ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Animal Pain ◽  
Pain Scales ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Control

Pain scales classify the severity of pain inflicted on laboratory animals from little or none up to severe. A pain scale as part of public policy serves beneficial purposes that promote animal welfare. It can be used to educate people about the two alternatives of refinement and replacement, and the need to reduce animal pain. Furthermore, a pain scale has practical applications: 1) in review procedures for animal welfare concerns; 2) in developing policies on the use of animals in education; and 3) as a basis for collecting national data on animal experimentation, so that meaningful data can be collected on trends in reduction and control in animal pain. So far, only a few countries (including Sweden, the Netherlands, Canada and New Zealand) have adopted pain scales as part of their public policy. Most countries, including the United States, have not yet done so. The history of the development and adoption of pain scales by various countries is described and the case is presented for wider adoption of a pain scale in countries not currently using one.

Social isolation of goats: significance of visual contact with conspecifics on behavioral and physiological responses

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Govind Kannan ◽  
Zaira M Estrada-Reyes ◽  
Phaneendra Batchu ◽  
Brou Kouakou ◽  
Thomas H Terrill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Average Weight ◽  
Median Frequency ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Rank Score

Abstract Social isolation can increase distress in goats, particularly when they cannot maintain visual contact with conspecifics. This experiment was conducted to determine the behavioral and physiological responses in goats during isolation with or without visual contact with conspecifics. Male Spanish goats (uncastrated, 8-mo old, average weight 29.4 ± 0.59 kg) were randomly assigned to a control (CO) group with no isolation or to one of four isolation treatment (TRT) pens (1.5 × 1.5 m) with: (1) open grill panels but with no visual contact with conspecifics (IO), (2) covered grill to prevent visual contact (IC), (3) open grill with visual contact (IV), or (3) covered grill with a 30 × 30 cm window to allow visual contact (IW) for 90 min of social isolation (n = 12 goats/TRT). Blood samples were collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min (Time) from isolated and control goats. The experiment was repeated one week later using the same animals, with each goat being subjected to the same isolation treatment the second time to study the effect of prior exposure to isolation. Friedman’s Two-Way ANOVA by Ranks Test in SAS showed that the median frequency of vocalization (rank score) in goats was high in IO group, low in IV and IW groups, and intermediate in IC group (P < 0.01). Vocalization rank score was also higher (P < 0.01) during the first 30 min of isolation in goats. Median frequency of visual contact was higher in the IW group than in the IV group (P < 0.01). Frequency of climbing behavior was high in IC and IO groups, low in IV group, and intermediate in IW group (P < 0.01). Repeated Measures Analysis using GLM procedures in SAS revealed that plasma cortisol and glucose concentrations tended (P < 0.1) to be the highest in IO group than in CO, IC, IV, and IW groups. Cortisol levels were also higher (Time; P < 0.05) at 0 and 90 min compared to 30 and 60 min. Norepinephrine concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) with Time, and plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels were affected by TRT × Time interaction (P < 0.01). Overall, epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucose, and NEFA concentrations were lower (P < 0.01) and cortisol concentrations and lymphocyte counts higher (P < 0.01) when goats were exposed to isolation the second time. The results showed that goats with no visual contact with conspecifics during social isolation had greater physiological stress responses and spent more time vocalizing or trying to escape the pen, which may indicate distress.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document