scholarly journals Effects of breed, management and personality on cortisol reactivity in sport horses

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fay J. Sauer ◽  
Marco Hermann ◽  
Alessandra Ramseyer ◽  
Dominik Burger ◽  
Stefanie Riemer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Acth Stimulation Test ◽  
Acth Stimulation ◽  
Cortisol Reactivity ◽  
Amateur Sport ◽  
Adrenal Response ◽  
Management Factors

AbstractSport horses need to fulfill high physical and psychological requirements during training and competition. These as well as certain conditions of modern husbandry may affect their wellbeing. Here we aimed to (1) evaluate effects of demographic and management factors as well as personality traits on stress reactivity of sport horses, (2) investigate if elite sport horses have elevated stress levels compared to amateur sport horses, and (3) assess whether different equestrian disciplines differentially influence horses’ adrenal cortex responsiveness. For this purpose, we visited 149 healthy elite (n=94) and amateur (n=54) sport horses in Switzerland and performed an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Additionally, a person who was familiar with the horse completed a questionnaire about demographic and management factors and horses’ personality traits. Linear models were calculated to assess associations between the questionnaire data and salivary cortisol 60 and 90 minutes after ACTH stimulation. While the model at T90 was not significant, post-stimulatory cortisol after 60 min appears most informative in line with a previous study and was significantly affected by the horses’ breed and by three management factors: “number of riders”, “hours spent outside” and “group housing” (adjusted r2 =15%, p<0.001). Thoroughbred and Warmblood horses displayed an increased adrenal response compared to Franches-Montagnes horses. Horses with several riders had a less pronounced reaction than horses with one rider, and horses that spent more time outside had a decreased response compared to horses that were stabled most of the time. Horses living in groups showed higher post-stimulatory cortisol values than horses that were housed singly. However, no significant associations of cortisol responsiveness with personality traits were found, and neither the horses’ use as elite or as amateur sport horses nor the discipline had an effect on the cortisol response. This suggests that optimizing husbandry conditions may be more important for improving horses’ welfare than changing their use.

Effects of age and maternal reactivity on the stress response of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis and the sympathetic nervous system in neonatal pigs

1999 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kanitz ◽  
W. Otten ◽  
G. Nürnberg ◽  
K. P. Brüssow
Keyword(s):  
Stress Reactivity ◽  
Acth Stimulation Test ◽  
Acth Stimulation ◽  
Acth Challenge ◽  
Neonatal Pigs ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Function Test ◽  
Adrenal Response ◽  
Different Levels

AbstractThe study was conducted to investigate the adreno cortical capacity after injection of ACTH and the sensitivity of the pituitary and the adrenal to immobilization in neonatal pigs at different ages. Furthermore, the endocrine reactivity of the offspring was compared with the stress reactivity of their mothers. Four piglets were selected from each of six different litters and subjected to an immobilization test and an adrenal function test using synthetic ACTH1-24 at the ages of 7, 21 and 35 days; the six sows were also subjected to restraint and an ACTH stimulation test. Plasma β-endorphin, norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations were measured in blood samples taken 2 min after restraint and cortisol concentrations were measured 60 min after ACTH administration. A highly sensitive adrenal response was demonstrated in both sows and piglets and adrenal reactivity showed also a considerable consistency over time within sows. In neonatal pigs, the cortisol response to ACTH was greatest on day 7 and decreased up to day 35. Plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine levels after the 2-min immobilization were also higher at day 7 compared with the other ages (P < 0·01). Piglets from sows, classified as high reacting according to their cortisol or epinephrine response, also showed significantly higher cortisol levels after ACTH challenge at all ages and significantly higher epinephrine levels after restraint at day 7 than piglets from low reacting sows. The results show an age-related change of pituitary-adrenocortical and sympatho-adrenomedullary responses in neonatal pigs and an absence of a stress hyporesponsive period at all ages studied. The results also indicate different levels of excitability in the offspring depending on the maternal stress reactivity.

Hypoadrenocorticism in two cats successfully treated with desoxycorticosterone pivalate

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. e000600
Author(s):  
Franziska Reimann ◽  
Stefanie Siol ◽  
Charlotte Schlüter ◽  
Reto Neiger
Keyword(s):  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Adrenal Glands ◽  
Final Concentration ◽  
Stimulation Test ◽  
Acth Stimulation Test ◽  
Acth Stimulation ◽  
Blood Examination ◽  
Stimulation Of

Two cats were presented with lethargy and anorexia. Clinically, the cats showed hypothermia and dehydration. Blood examination in both cats showed hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia and additionally azotaemia in case 1 and hypercalcaemia in case 2. In both cats, an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test showed an insufficient stimulation of the adrenal glands. In case 1, markedly elevated endogenous ACTH was additionally measured. Both cats were successfully treated with a combination of desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) and prednisolone (0.15 mg/kg daily). Case 1 received a final concentration of 2.6 mg/kg DOCP every 30 days, while case 2 was successfully managed with 2.2 mg/kg every 28 days. These rare cases of feline hypoadrenocorticism demonstrate that DOCP can be used similarly as in dogs.

scholarly journals Does variation in trait schizotypy and frequency of cannabis use influence the acute subjective, cognitive and psychotomimetic effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol? A mega-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 026988112095960
Author(s):  
Abigail M Freeman ◽  
Claire Mokrysz ◽  
Chandni Hindocha ◽  
Will Lawn ◽  
Celia JA Morgan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Memory Impairment ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Schizotypal Personality ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Individual Participant ◽  
Psychotomimetic Effects

Background: While the acute effects of cannabis are relatively benign for most users, some individuals experience significant adverse effects. This study aimed to identify whether variation in schizotypal personality traits and frequency of cannabis use influence the acute effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Methods: Individual participant data from four double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, acute crossover studies involving 128 cannabis users were combined for a mega-analysis. Using multilevel linear models and moderation analyses, frequency of cannabis use and schizotypal personality traits were investigated as potential moderators of the subjective, cognitive and psychotomimetic effects of acute THC. Results: There was evidence of a moderating effect where increased frequency of cannabis use was associated with reduced intensity of subjective (changes in alertness and feeling stoned) and psychosis-like effects following THC when compared with placebo. Moderating effects of cannabis use frequency on acute memory impairment were weak. Trait schizotypy did not moderate the acute psychosis-like effects of THC compared with placebo. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a pattern of domain-specific tolerance develops to the acute effects of THC. Tolerance to the alertness-reducing effects occurred more readily than tolerance to psychotomimetic effects. Only partial tolerance to feeling stoned was found, and there was weak evidence for tolerance to memory impairment. Trait schizotypy did not moderate THC’s effects on psychotomimetic symptoms.

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.

Taming trilostane: past and future

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 458-465
Author(s):  
Constance N White
Keyword(s):  
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ◽  
Monitoring Tool ◽  
Acth Stimulation ◽  
Monitoring Therapy ◽  
Clinical Control ◽  
Cortisol Levels

A number of methods have been proposed for monitoring trilostane therapy for canine hyperadrenocorticism. Lack of consensus on timing and targets for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation testing, coupled with the fact that post-ACTH cortisol levels may not correlate well with clinical control, suggest that stimulation testing may not be as reliable a monitoring tool as initially thought. This article reviews developments in our understanding of the action, dosage, and monitoring of trilostane therapy of canine hyperadrenocorticism. Trilostane pharmacodynamics should be considered both in monitoring therapy and in tailoring dosage and frequency of administration.

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