Maternal care and selection for low mortality affect post-stress corticosterone and peripheral serotonin in laying hens

Rodenburg, T.B.; Bolhuis, J.E.; Koopmanschap, R.E.; Ellen, E.D.; Decuypere, Eddy

doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2009.08.006

Cited by 42 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Correlations were also found between neuron counts with other neuron counts, for instance between TH positive neurons in VMH and TH positive neurons in DM. However, no significant correlations were found between any of the variables from the previously conducted open field test Rodenburg et al [8,9] and the hypothalamic areas showing significant groups differences in the present study (see Table 2). …”

Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 76%

“…Dopamine is postulated to play a role in feather pecking, as chickens administered DA receptor antagonists showed reduced feather pecking behavior [30]. In line with these reports, the fourth generation of the same LML hens was shown to have lower corticosterone levels than the control line, and expressed less fear in behavioral testing [3,8,9]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The second generation of this LML was used. The other genetic line was selected using individual performance only and is referred to as the control line (CL) [8,9]. The animals were raised either with or without a foster hen, producing four treatment groups: LML raised with a hen (LML HEN), LML raised without a hen (LML NO), CL raised with a hen (CL HEN), and CL raised without a hen (CL NO).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The animals were raised either with or without a foster hen, producing four treatment groups: LML raised with a hen (LML HEN), LML raised without a hen (LML NO), CL raised with a hen (CL HEN), and CL raised without a hen (CL NO). For details of the rearing and fostering procedures, see Rodenburg et al [8,9]. At week 52, all hens (n = 7 per group) were humanely euthanized by cervical dislocation and the brains processed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, a line of laying hens was produced following sibling selection for low premature mortality in addition to production characteristics [6]. This line shows low mortality due to feather pecking and cannibalism, and differs from animals selected for production characteristics only for a number of physiological and behavioral measures which may be related to fear or stress, including altered whole-blood serotonin levels, plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels and open field behavior, while leaving cognition intact [3,7-9]. Altered brain development has been proposed as a potential “biomarker” for welfare states in animals [10], and can provide more insight into the underlying processes involved in feather pecking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hypothalamic vasotocin and tyrosine hydroxylase levels following maternal care and selection for low mortality in laying hens

et al. 2014

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BackgroundFeather pecking and cannibalism are major concerns in poultry farming, both in terms of animal welfare and farm economics. Genetic selection and introduction of (aspects of) maternal care have been suggested as potential interventions to reduce feather pecking in laying hens. Altered brain development has been proposed to reflect welfare states in animals, and can provide more insight into the underlying processes involved in feather pecking. Both vasotocin (the avian homologue of vasopressin) and dopaminergic neural circuitry have roles in control of social behaviors as well as in the stress response, and may be linked to feather pecking. Thus, the hypothalamus of adult laying hens selected for low early mortality (LML), which show low feather pecking, was examined and compared with a control line of adult laying hens selected for production characteristics only (CL). The effect of foster hen rearing on the two genetic lines and their hypothalamic morphology was also investigated.ResultsWe demonstrated an increase in the number of neurons positive for the rate-limiting enzyme in dopamine production, tyrosine hydroxylase, in the periventricular area of the hypothalamus in the LML hens compared to CL hens. Hen-reared chicks showed more vasotocin -positive neurons in the medial pre-optic area compared to the hens raised without a hen. No correlations were found between behavior in an open field at 5–6 weeks of age, and the histology of the same hens at adulthood.ConclusionThe hypothalamic dopaminergic and vasotinergic systems are altered in hens following genetic selection or maternal care, indicating a potential role for these systems in feather pecking.

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Section: Resultscontrasting

confidence: 76%