scholarly journals Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat Melomys cervinipes

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 82
Author(s):  
Misha K. Rowell ◽  
Rachel M. Santymire ◽  
Tasmin L. Rymer
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Metabolite Concentration ◽  
Cognitive Responses ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Species Specific

Animals can respond physiologically, such as by adjusting glucocorticoid hormone concentrations, to sudden environmental challenges. These physiological changes can then affect behavioural and cognitive responses. While the relationships between adrenocortical activity and behaviour and cognition are well documented, results are equivocal, suggesting species-specific responses. We investigated whether adrenocortical activity, measured using corticosterone metabolite concentration, was related to problem solving in an Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys cervinipes). Mosaic-tailed rats live in complex environments that are prone to disturbance, suggesting a potential need to solve novel problems, and have been found to show relationships between physiology and other behaviours. We measured problem solving using five food-baited puzzles (matchbox and cylinder in the home cage, and activity board with pillars to push, tiles to slide and levers to lift in an open field), and an escape-motivated obstruction task in a light/dark box. Faecal samples were collected from individuals during routine cage cleaning. Adrenocortical activity was evaluated non-invasively by measuring faecal corticosterone metabolites using an enzyme immunoassay, which was biochemically and biologically validated. Despite varying over time, adrenocortical activity was not significantly related to problem solving success or time spent interacting for any task. However, as adrenocortical activity is reflective of multiple physiological processes, including stress and metabolism, future studies should consider how other measures of physiology are also linked to problem solving.

scholarly journals Measuring Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Reindeer

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 987
Author(s):  
Şeyda Özkan Gülzari ◽  
Grete Helen Meisfjord Jørgensen ◽  
Svein Morten Eilertsen ◽  
Inger Hansen ◽  
Snorre Bekkevold Hagen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stress Responses ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Stress Hormones ◽  
Invasive Technique ◽  
Animal Conservation ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Species Specific

Several non-invasive methods for assessing stress responses have been developed and validated for many animal species. Due to species-specific differences in metabolism and excretion of stress hormones, methods should be validated for each species. The aim of this study was to conduct a physiological validation of an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for measuring faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) in male reindeer by administration of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH; intramuscular, 0.25 mg per animal). A total of 317 samples were collected from eight male reindeer over a 44 h period at Tverrvatnet in Norway in mid-winter. In addition, 114 samples were collected from a group of reindeer during normal handling and calf marking at Stjernevatn in Norway. Following ACTH injection, FCM levels (median and range) were 568 (268–2415) ng/g after two hours, 2718 (414–8550) ng/g after seven hours and 918 (500–6931) ng/g after 24 h. Levels were significantly higher from seven hours onwards compared to earlier hours (p < 0.001). The FCM levels at Stjernevatn were significantly (p < 0.001) different before (samples collected zero to two hours; median: 479 ng/g) and after calf marking (eight to ten hours; median: 1469 ng/g). Identification of the faecal samples belonging to individual animals was conducted using DNA analysis across time. This study reports a successful validation of a non-invasive technique for measuring stress in reindeer, which can be applied in future studies in the fields of biology, ethology, ecology, animal conservation and welfare.

Annual changes in corticosterone and its response to handling, tagging and short-term captivity in Nyctibatrachus humayuni

2020 ◽  
pp. 118-125
Author(s):  
Amruta M. Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Differential Sensitivity ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Coping With Stress ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Effective Conservation ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are primarily involved in mobilising energy reserves to various physiological processes including reproduction. During situations of stress, GCs also help in coping with stress by diverting energy away from processes such as growth and reproduction. Hence, studying annual and seasonal changes in GCs of wild populations can help in understanding their role in stress management and reproduction. The quantification of GCs in wild animals involves capturing, handling and restraining, which could be stressful. Moreover, different species may exhibit differential sensitivity to different stressors. Hence, determining species-specific sensitivities and responses to different stressors may help in developing effective conservation measures. In this context, we studied the annual and seasonal variations in corticosterone metabolites of the Bombay night frog, Nyctibatrachus humayuni. In addition, the effects of handling, marking and short-term captivity (24 h) on corticosterone metabolite levels of N. humayuni were determined. Our results show that urinary corticosterone metabolites (UCM) varied significantly annually and between the sexes; in males, the levels were highest during the breeding season, whilst in females, the levels were highest just before the breeding season. Interestingly, UCM levels of both the sexes were not affected by tagging with visual implant elastomer (VIE), and by short-term captivity, suggesting that these manipulations were not stressful in terms of corticosterone responses.

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 Variation in faecal corticosterone metabolites in an Arctic seabird, the Little Auk (Alle alle) during the nesting period

Polar Biology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 641-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Kidawa ◽  
Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas ◽  
Dariusz Jakubas ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
Lech Stempniewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Little Auk ◽  
Alle Alle ◽  
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

Cognitive control

2021 ◽  
pp. 93-116
Author(s):  
John Toner ◽  
Barbara Gail Montero ◽  
Aidan Moran
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Skill Acquisition ◽  
Mental Representations ◽  
Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Cognitive Responses ◽  
Expert Performance ◽  
On Line

What role might intuition and deliberation play during the performance of well-learned skills? Dreyfus and Dreyfus’ (1986) influential phenomenological analysis of skill-acquisition proposes that expert performance is guided by non-cognitive responses which are fast, effortless, and intuitive in nature. Although Dreyfus and Dreyfus (1986) recognize that, on occasions (e.g. when performance goes awry for some reason), a form of ‘detached deliberative rationality’ may be used by experts to improve their performance, they see no role for calculative problem solving or deliberation (i.e. drawing on rules or mental representations) when performance is going well. The current chapter counters this argument by drawing on empirical evidence and phenomenological description to argue that skilled performers use cognitive control (an executive function) across a range of sporting situations (i.e. in training, pre-performance routines, on-line skill execution) in order to maintain and enhance performance proficiency.

scholarly journals A novel multi-parametric analysis of non-invasive methods to assess animal distress during chronic pancreatitis

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdelrahman ◽  
Simone Kumstel ◽  
Xianbin Zhang ◽  
Marie Liebig ◽  
Edgar Heinz Uwe Wendt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pancreatitis ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Parametric Analysis ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Faecal Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Nesting Activity

Abstract Ethical responsibility, legal requirements and the need to improve the quality of research create a growing interest in the welfare of laboratory animals. Judging the welfare of animals requires readout parameters, which are valid and sensitive as well as specific to assess distress after different interventions. In the present study, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of different non-invasive parameters (body weight change, faecal corticosterone metabolites concentration, burrowing and nesting activity) by receiver operating characteristic curves and judged the merit of a multi-parametric analysis by logistic regression. Chronic pancreatitis as well as laparotomy caused significant changes in all parameters. However, the accuracy of these parameters was different between the two animal models. In both animal models, the multi-parametric analysis relying on all the readout parameters had the highest accuracy when predicting distress. This multi-parametric analysis revealed that C57BL/6 mice during the course of chronic pancreatitis often experienced less distress than mice after laparotomy. Interestingly these data also suggest that distress does not steadily increase during chronic pancreatitis. In conclusion, combining these non-invasive methods for severity assessment represents a reliable approach to evaluate animal distress in models such as chronic pancreatitis.

scholarly journals The transcriptional regulating protein of 132 kDa (TReP-132) differentially influences steroidogenic pathways in human adrenal NCI-H295 cells

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 557-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Gizard ◽  
E Teissier ◽  
I Dufort ◽  
G Luc ◽  
V Luu-The ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Steroid Biosynthesis ◽  
Steroidogenic Factor 1 ◽  
Transcript Levels ◽  
Adrenal Steroid ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Estrogen Production ◽  
Coordinated Expression ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Adrenal Glucocorticoid

Steroid hormones synthesized from cholesterol in the adrenal gland are important regulators of many physiological processes. It is now well documented that the expression of many genes required for steroid biosynthesis is dependent on the coordinated expression of the nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1). However, transcriptional mechanisms underlying the species-specific, developmentally programmed and hormone-dependent modulation of the adrenal steroid pathways remain to be elucidated. Recently, we demonstrated that the transcriptional regulating protein of 132 kDa (TReP-132) acts as a coactivator of SF-1 to regulate human P450scc gene transcription in human adrenal NCI-H295 cells. The present study shows that overexpression of TReP-132 increases the level of active steroids produced in NCI-H295 cells. The conversion of pregnenolone to downstream steroids following TReP-132 expression showed increased levels of glucocorticoids, C(19) steroids and estrogens. Correlating with these data, TReP-132 increases P450c17 activities via the induction of transcript levels and promoter activity of the P450c17 gene, an effect that is enhanced in the presence of cAMP or SF-1. In addition, P450aro activity and mRNA levels are highly induced by TReP-132, whereas 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II and P450c11aldo transcript levels are only slightly modulated. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TReP-132 is a trans-acting factor of genes involved in adrenal glucocorticoid, C(19) steroid and estrogen production.

Species-specific amplification by PCR of ribosomal DNA from some equine strongyles

Parasitology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 119 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.-C. HUNG ◽  
R. B. GASSER ◽  
I. BEVERIDGE ◽  
N. B. CHILTON
Keyword(s):  
Ribosomal Dna ◽  
Anthelmintic Resistance ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Strongylus Vulgaris ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Faecal Egg Count ◽  
Specific Amplification ◽  
Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences ◽  
Second Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽  
Species Specific

The first and second internal transcribed spacer sequences of 28 morphologically-defined species of horse strongyle were characterized, and specific oligonucleotide primers were designed for some species based on the nucleotide differences. Utilizing these primers, a PCR approach was developed for the specific amplification of ribosomal DNA of Strongylus vulgaris, Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicostephanus longibursatus or Cylicostephanus goldi. The method allowed the species-specific amplification of parasite DNA derived from faecal samples and/or copro-cultures, demonstrating the potential of the approach for the diagnosis of equine strongyloidosis. The establishment of this PCR assay also has implications for studying the biology and epidemiology of equine strongyles and anthelmintic resistance using faecal egg count reduction tests.

scholarly journals The Effect of Transport Stress on Corticosterone Metabolites in Pheasant Droppings

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Volfova ◽  
Zuzana Machovcova ◽  
Pavel Forejtek ◽  
Eva Voslarova ◽  
Iveta Bedanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Immunoassay ◽  
Health Protection ◽  
Phasianus Colchicus ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Transport Stress ◽  
Baseline Levels ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites

Abstract BackgroundTransport has been proven to represent a significant stressor for animals. In view of the fact that pheasants are frequently reared in captivity in hatcheries and are then transported for the purpose of their sale or release, it is essential from the viewpoint of welfare and health protection to obtain as much information as possible about their response to this stressor. The aim of this study was to assess changes in corticosterone metabolite (CM) levels related to transport in common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). MethodsSixteen birds aged 17 weeks were crated and transported for 3.5 hours (distance travelled 140 km) to the target customer. Individual droppings were collected during the 2 days prior to transport and 3 days after transport. Concentrations of faecal CMs were determined with a non-commercial EIA (enzyme-immunoassay) kit, cortisone was used as a standard and values were expressed as cortisone equivalents in ng per g of droppings. ResultsTransport represents a major stressor for animals and this was also reflected in increased CM concentrations in the droppings in our study. CM concentrations increased within 24 hours of transport (P < 0.01) as compared to pre-transport levels (533.82 ng/g vs. 228.85 ng/g) and continued to rise for another 24 hours (745.35 ng/g). Three days after transport CM concentrations fell back to baseline levels (297.97 ng/g). ConclusionsThe EIA used in this study proved to be sensitive enough to detect biologically meaningful alterations in the adrenocortical activity of pheasants exposed to procedures related to their transport.

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