Salivary cortisol: a non-invasive measure of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical activity in the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus

Abstract

SummarySalivary cortisol is a non-invasive and easy-to-assess measure of the activity of the hypotha1amo-pituitary-adrenocortical IHPA) system. Here we report that salivary cortisol determination can be used in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) to monitor variations in HPA system activity induced by both housing and experimental conditions. Saliva cortisol assessment has several advantages over blood cortisol analysis such as stress-free frequent sampling, laboratory independence and lower costs. Therefore, this non-invasive measure can be the method of choice in primatological research projects and routine programmes related to the well-being of these laboratory animals. KeywordsGlucocorticoids; HPA system; primate; squirrel monkey; stress Physical challenges, or psychological perturbations in situations with low predictability, low controllability, and/or novelty, can activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPAl system resulting in elevated serum levels of the adrenocortical steroid hormones, cortisol and corticosterone which are thought to be responsible for both adaptational and maladaptational processes to perturbing situations IMunck et al. 1984, de Kloet 1991, Weiner 1992. Cortisol, the predominant corticosteroid in primates, is mostly quantified in plasma or serum. Blood sampling, however, requires the stressfulness of capture and handling of animals together with the aversiveness of venipuncture. Although analysis of urinary cortisol would allow the researcher to avoid many of these problems, this approach is unsatisfactory when information of cortisol levels within short time intervals is

Rearing condition and plasma cortisol in rhesus monkey infants

“…These findings suggest that any value above 25-30 µg/dl should be considered a nonbasal sample for these age groups. We anticipate that as more investigators turn to saliva collection for cortisol assay [e.g., Fuchs et al, 1997], many of the unresolved questions regarding HPA axis activity will be successfully answered, and asking many previously unasked questions will be within the realm of possibility.…”

Saliva sampling to assess cortisol levels in unrestrained common marmosets and the effect of behavioral stress

“…The assays were performed using an Orion Diagnostica kit (Espoo, Finland), which has been validated in previous studies on nonhuman primates [e.g., Fuchs et al, 1997;Boyce et al, 1995] and humans [e.g., Keenan et al, 2002]. Saliva samples (25 ml) were pipetted into Wasserman tubes, to which 75 ml of buffer was added, followed by 100 ml of 125 I-cortisol and 100 ml of antiserum.…”

“…To collect saliva from squirrel monkeys, Fuchs et al [1997] used a primate restraint chair and ran the cotton-wool bud over the gums of the monkeys to sample the saliva. Lutz et al [2000] designed two useful methods for collecting saliva from rhesus macaques: the ''screen'' method, in which the monkeys lick a screen-covered gauze, and the ''pole'' method, in which they suck and chew on an attached rope.…”

Comparison of salivary cortisol concentrations in Jaguars kept in captivity with differences in exposure to the public

“…Salivary cortisol is a non invasive reliable method to measure the cortisol profile related to environmental stimulus in wild animals in captivity (FUCHS et al, 1997;CROSS & ROGERS, 2004). suited the method of salivary cortisol collection used on pigs, primates and others animals was suited to jaguars.…”