Hormones as indicators of stress

Möstl, Erich; Palme, Rüpert

doi:10.1016/s0739-7240(02)00146-7

Cited by 916 publications

(801 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Details of the three EIAs, including cross-reactivities are described by Möstl and Palme (2002) for 3α,11oxo-CM and by Palme & Möstl (1997) for 11,17-DOA and cortisol. Sensitivity of the cortisol EIA was 1.6 ng/g, and 3.3 ng/g for the other two group-specific assays.…”

Section: Steroid Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-invasive measurement of adrenocortical activity in a myrmecophageous mammal, the bat-eared fox

et al. 2016

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Measuring physiological stress reactions through the quantification of plasma cortisol often involves physically restraint, which acts as a stressor itself.Here, we present the validation of a non-invasive method for assessing adrenocortical activity as an indicator of stress in the bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis). By conducting an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge, we examined the suitability of three enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) detecting 11,17 dioxoandrostanes (11,17-DOA) as well as faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) with a 5β-3α-ol-11-one (3α,11oxo-CM), or 11,17,21-trihydroxy-4-ene-20-one structure (cortisol), respectively, for monitoring stress-related physiological responses in male and female bat-eared foxes.Our results suggest that the cortisol EIA seems most suitable for measuring fGCMs in this myrmecophageous mammal. Using the cortisol EIA, we compared fGCM concentrations of three populations of foxes. Only one 1 population experienced a sudden change in social environment and the assay appeared to effectively detect the resulting increase in stress hormone levels. Therefore, the identified EIA is effective at detecting intraspecific variation in fGCM levels, and hence a useful tool to evaluate physiological stress responses in this species.

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Section: Steroid Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-invasive measurement of adrenocortical activity in a myrmecophageous mammal, the bat-eared fox

et al. 2016

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“…1991; Palme et al. 1996; Möstl & Palme 2002). While this method is less suitable for evaluating stress levels on specific time points, due to the delay in corticosterone metabolism and its gradual accumulation in faeces, it is a useful alternative when studying longer periods of time (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural and Hormonal Stress Responses to Social Separation in Ravens, Corvus corax

et al. 2016

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Social life is profitable, but it facilitates conflicts over resources and creates interdependence between individuals. Separating highly social animals triggers intense reactions aimed at re‐establishing lost connections. Less is known, however, about behavioural and physiological responses to separation in socially facultative species, where individuals temporarily form groups and may subsequently leave them. Non‐breeding common ravens (Corvus corax) gather in large numbers at feeding and roosting sites, but otherwise spend time seemingly solitary or in small subgroups. We here studied how ravens cope with being socially isolated, and investigated the life characteristics that might explain potential individual differences. For this, we individually separated captive subadult ravens (n = 25) and housed them in physical and visual isolation from their group members across 4 d. During the separation period, we collected behavioural data and measured the amount of immunoreactive corticosterone metabolites from bird droppings to assess the ravens’ physiological stress response. We found behavioural indicators of stress at the start of the separation, when ravens showed higher levels of tension than of comfort – a pattern that reversed at the end of the separation. Furthermore, we found that the upbringing of ravens affected their behaviour during separation. Hand‐raised birds produced more vocalisations in the beginning of the separation, and were less active at the end, while the reverse pattern occurred with parent‐raised ravens. Contrary to our predictions, we did not find differences in hormonal responses between the beginning and end of the separation period or any link between hormonal responses and behaviours. Ravens’ behavioural responses to social separation stress seem to be dependent on their arousal states, although possible links with hormonal reactions remain unclear. Our results show that behavioural reactions are not always linked with hormonal responses to stress, and further emphasise the importance of investigating effects of early‐life experiences.

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“…Non-invasive techniques such as faecal sampling can offer an effective method to reduce the stress of sampling and allow data to be integrated over a longer period of time (Möstl and Palme, 2002). This study used faecal sampling as the method to assess the impact of housing density on the physiological responses of the ewes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pen size and parity effects on maternal behaviour of Small-Tail Han sheep

Yang

Dwyer

et al. 2015

Animal

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The aim of this experiment was to study the effects of pen size and parity on maternal behaviour of twin-bearing Small-Tail Han ewes. A total of 24 ewes were allocated to a 2 × 2 design (six per pen), with parity (primiparous or multiparous) and pen size (large: 6.0 × 3.0 m; small: 6.0 × 1.5 m) as main effects at Linyi University, Shandong Province, China. Behaviour was observed from after parturition until weaning. All ewes were observed for 6 h every 5 days from 0700 to1000 h and from 1400 to 1700 h. Continuous focal animal sampling was used to quantify the duration of maternal behaviours: sucking, grooming and following as well as the frequency of udder accepting, udder refusing and low-pitched bleating. Oestradiol and cortisol concentrations in the faeces (collected in the morning every 5 days) were detected using EIA kits. All lambs were weighed 24 h after parturition and again at weaning at 35 days of age. The small pen size significantly reduced following ( P < 0.005), grooming ( P < 0.001) and suckling durations ( P < 0.05), as well as the frequency of udder refusals ( P < 0.001). However, there was a significant interaction with ewe parity, with decreased grooming and suckling in the small pen largely seen in the multiparous ewes ( P < 0.001). Independent of pen size, multiparous ewes accepted more sucking attempts by their lambs ( P < 0.05) and made more low-pitched bleats than primiparous ewes ( P < 0.001). Multiparous ewes had higher faecal oestradiol concentrations than primiparous ewes ( P < 0.001), and ewes in small pens had higher faecal cortisol levels compared with ewes in larger pens ( P < 0.001). As lambs increased in age, the duration of maternal grooming, following and suckling as well as frequency of udder acceptance and lowpitched bleating all declined, and the frequency of udder refusing increased ( P < 0.001 for all). Ewe parity, but not pen size, affected lamb weight gain during the period of observation ( P < 0.001). This is the first study to show that pen size, interacting with parity, can affect the expression of maternal behaviour in sheep during lactation. The study is also the first to report on the maternal behaviour of Chinese native sheep breeds (Small-Tail Han sheep), with implications for the production of sheep in China.

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Hormones as indicators of stress

Cited by 916 publications

References 35 publications

Non-invasive measurement of adrenocortical activity in a myrmecophageous mammal, the bat-eared fox

Non-invasive measurement of adrenocortical activity in a myrmecophageous mammal, the bat-eared fox

Behavioural and Hormonal Stress Responses to Social Separation in Ravens, Corvus corax

Pen size and parity effects on maternal behaviour of Small-Tail Han sheep

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