Cortisol, progesterone and β-endorphin response to stress in calves

1995 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Cooper ◽  
A. C. O. Evans ◽  
S. Cook ◽  
N. C. Rawlings

In evaluating stress in farm animals, it would be useful to know whether there were consistent endocrine responses that could be followed. Adrenal cortisol secretion is quite variable, but β-endorphin secretion and adrenal progesterone production may be useful indicators of stress. Changes in plasma concentrations of cortisol, β-endorphin and progesterone were studied in spring-born, castrated male calves (steers) (6 mo of age ± 18 d, 516 ± 26 kg, n = 12) subjected to the stress of routine dehorning. Steers were isolated from their dams for 2 h before headgate restraint (control) or restraint and dehorning. They were bled 60 and 10 min prior to headgate restraint or restraint and dehorning. Blood samples were also collected immediately after headgate restraint or restraint and dehorning (time 0) and 5, 10, 30 and 60 min later. All blood samples were taken from a jugular catheter, and the blood sampling that was done out of the headgate involved minimal manual restraint. Plasma β-endorphin concentrations were similar in control steers and dehorned steers (P > 0.05) and decreased significantly following restraint or restraint and dehorning (P < 0.05). Plasma cortisol concentrations rose significantly 5 min after dehorning and were elevated for 60 min; but with restraint only, plasma cortisol concentrations rose to a peak 5 min after release from chute restraint and then declined (P < 0.05). Plasma cortisol concentrations were greater in dehorned steers than in control steers in the period from 10 min after dehorning or headgate restraint to 60 min after headgate restraint (P < 0.0043). Plasma progesterone concentrations rose to a peak 10 min after dehorning and then declined, but in control steers, a peak was seen at 5 min after release from restraint (P < 0.05). Plasma progesterone concentrations were greater in dehorned steers between 5 and 60 min after dehorning than in control steers (P < 0.05). From these data, we concluded that in prepubertal, castrated male calves, β-endorphin was not released in any significant quantities in response to the stress of dehorning. In steers, adrenal cortisol and progesterone were secreted in response to acute stress, and a ratio of the two may provide a useful assessment of stress; this requires further study. Key words: Cortisol, progesterone, β-endorphin, stress, calves

Reproduction ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
B C Nephew ◽  
J Amico ◽  
H M Cai ◽  
A M Walker ◽  
R S Bridges

The prolactin (PRL) receptor antagonist S179D PRL delays the onset of maternal behavior in steroid-primed nulliparous female rats. The present study investigated the role of the neural PRL system in the process of parturition. A preliminary study indicated that S179D PRL treatments administered by ALZET minipump to the lateral ventricle severely disrupted parturition. To examine the likely causes of this disruption, a group of timed-pregnant catheterized rats was continuously infused with S-179D PRL (0.001 and 0.1 ng/h) or vehicle control to the lateral ventricles for 3 days (gestation days 21–23), and serial blood samples were taken throughout this period. Effects of the treatments on parturition were recorded, and blood samples were assayed for PRL, progesterone, and oxytocin. Significantly fewer S179D PRL-treated rats successfully delivered by 1500 h on day 23 of gestation when compared with controls. The higher dose of S179D PRL also significantly suppressed the prepartum rise in PRL throughout the prepartum period, while the lower dose only affected plasma PRL during the first 24 h of treatment. No significant effects of the antagonist on plasma progesterone or oxytocin were detected. We conclude that disruption of parturition by S179D PRL is not caused by significant alterations in the plasma concentrations of progesterone or oxytocin. S179D PRL may indirectly act on parturition through the modulation of prepartum PRL. These findings suggest a previously unrecognized role for PRL in the regulation of parturition.


1981 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. G. CHALLIS ◽  
J. V. WORKEWYCH ◽  
J. E. PATRICK

The concentration of progesterone has been measured in ten women at 34–35 weeks of gestation in blood samples taken at 30 or 60 min intervals during a 24 h study period. Plasma progesterone concentrations showed a distinct diurnal rhythm. Most values determined between 04.00 and 11.00 h were significantly lower than the peak concentrations measured between 13.00 and 01.00 h. The relation of these changes in plasma progesterone to those in plasma cortisol and oestrogens is discussed.


1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 516-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaoru Nomura ◽  
Mitsuhide Naruse ◽  
Kiyoko Naruse ◽  
Hiroshi Demura ◽  
Kazuo Shizume

Abstract. This study was done to confirm that aldosterone-producing adenomas secrete cortisol in vivo. Plasma cortisol and aldosterone concentrations were measured in samples obtained by selective adrenal-vein sampling in 8 patients with primary aldosteronism due to unilateral adenoma. All cases revealed higher adrenal-vein plasma cortisol concentrations on the adenoma side than the opposite, irrespective of adenoma location. These concentrations correlated significantly with plasma aldosterone concentrations (r = 0.972, P < 0.001) in effluents from the adenoma side, but not from the opposite. Plasma concentrations also correlated significantly with estimated adenoma volume (r = 0.918, P < 0.05). These findings strongly suggest that aldosterone-producing adenomas secrete cortisol in vivo. In a second study, we used metyrapone to test 6 patients with adenomas. Their responsiveness to cortisol and corticotrophin was found to be the same as that in normal subjects, suggesting that adenoma-secreted cortisol did not disturb the relationship between corticotrophin and cortisol. We thus concluded that cortisol is secreted concomitantly with aldosterone from aldosterone-producing adenomas under corticotrophin influence.


1991 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Green ◽  
B. I. Baker

ABSTRACT Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) is a neurohypophysial peptide that induces pigmentary pallor in teleosts and which is released when the fish are placed on a white background. An additional effect of the peptide is the depression of ACTH and hence cortisol secretion during moderate stress. The present work on rainbow trout shows that plasma MCH concentrations, while unaffected by a single stress, are raised by repeated stress (1 ml saline injected i.p. without anaesthesia) and remain high for several hours thereafter. The response to stress is observed only in white-adapted fish and not in fish kept in black-coloured tanks, when MCH release is normally low. Plasma concentrations of MCH vary diurnally but stress induces an equivalent incremental rise in plasma MCH, whether administered in the middle or towards the end of the photophase. The stress-induced rise in MCH concentrations is prevented by treatment with dexamethasone. The results support the suggestion that the modulatory effect of MCH on the hypothalamopituitary-interrenal axis of fish might be enhanced under conditions of stress. Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 128, 261–266


1991 ◽  
Vol 125 (5) ◽  
pp. 556-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Matthews ◽  
R. F. Parrott

Abstract. Two experiments were carried out using adult castrated sheep prepared with jugular vein catheters. In Experiment 1, sheep (N=8) were injected iv with saline vehicle, vehicle + 15 or 30 μg oCRH, or subjected to 120 min mild physical stress (restraint), following a 48 h period during which water was freely available or withheld. Blood samples were taken for 30 min before and 120 min after oCRH injection, and before and during restraint, and the plasma analysed for AVP and cortisol content. Levels of AVP increased by over 500% after dehydration, but were unaffected by oCRH or restraint. In contrast, plasma cortisol was unchanged after dehydration, but increased after oCRH and restraint. Moreover, these cortisol responses were significantly greater when the sheep were dehydrated. In Experiment 2, euhydrated sheep (N =6) were infused iv with saline vehicle or vehicle + AVP for a 5-h pretreatment period, followed by a 2-h experimental period in which the animals were injected with 15 μg oCRH or subjected to 120 min restraint, as in Experiment 1. Blood samples were taken throughout the experiment from a contralateral catheter and the plasma analysed for AVP and cortisol content. The AVP infusion produced plasma levels of the hormone approximately twice those seen after 48 h dehydration in Experiment 1, but did not affect cortisol secretion. Furthermore, the cortisol response to oCRH, or restraint, was not enhanced by the AVP infusion. These results suggest that pituitary responsiveness to exogenous or endogenous CRH (restraint stress) may be enhanced in sheep by dehydration through a mechanism that does not involve an adrenal or pituitary action of circulating AVP.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1578
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Bozzo ◽  
Barbara Padalino ◽  
Elisabetta Bonerba ◽  
Roberta Barrasso ◽  
Vincenzo Tufarelli ◽  
...  

The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the relationship between journey duration, deck level and activation patterns of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis (HPA) and sympathetic adrenal medullary system (SAM) in pigs. A total of 90 pigs were examined. The animals came from three different Italian farms associated with the same slaughterhouse located in Bari (Apulia region-Italy). A group of thirty animals was transported from Pordenone (11 h journey); a second group was transported from Terni (6.5 h journey); a third group was transported from Benevento (3 h journey). The animals were transported in the same vehicle, which complied with the structural characteristics indicated in the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005. The truck was composed of a lorry and a trailer, each one divided into three decks. Only the animals transported in the trailer were tested for the study. Before transportation, blood samples were collected on each farm, at 6:00 a.m., from 30 pigs randomly selected out of 135 pigs ready to be transported. Blood samples were also collected during slaughter to evaluate plasma cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine, around 6:00 a.m. A journey duration of 11 h was associated with significantly higher plasma concentrations of stress hormones compared with shorter journeys. This increase was proportional to the journey duration, with the pigs travelling for 6.5 h displaying intermediate concentrations between those noticed after 3 h and 11 h journeys. The interaction between deck and journey distance was not significant on epinephrine, norepinephrine or cortisol levels collected at arrival. There was a significant effect of deck level on norepinephrine levels (p < 0.0001), a tendency to influence epinephrine levels (p = 0.073) but no effect on cortisol levels (p = 0.945). Overall, we observed that an 11 h-long journey seemed to impact negatively on pigs’ HPA-SAM activity, likely requiring the animals to spend more time in the lairage facilities to recover.


Rangifer ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Wiklund ◽  
P.J. Goddard ◽  
C. Rehbinder

Automatic blood sampling equipment (ABSE) was used successfully to collect blood samples from two reindeer. During blood sampling, two methods of restraint were applied which caused no short term changes in plasma concentrations of urea, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase or total protein. Plasma Cortisol concentrations were significantly elevated by the two restraint techniques. The value of ABSE in studies of stress in reindeer is discussed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 45-49
Author(s):  
Zahra Yarahmadi ◽  
◽  
Abdol Ali Movahedinia ◽  
Sara Rastgar ◽  
Rashid Alijani Ardeshir ◽  
...  

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as naphthalene (NAP) are organic pollutants that have spread widely in littoral marine ecosystems. We aimed to study the effect of acute and prolonged exposure to naphthalene (NAP) on plasma cortisol and thyroid levels in mature and immature Liza klunzingeri mulet. Methods: In acute stress experiment, the treatment group received 2μl g-1 sunflower oil containing NAP (50 mg kg-1) intraperitoneally and the controls were injected with sunflower oil alone (2μl g-1). Blood samples were obtained from both groups after 3 h. In prolonged stress experiment, 10 μl g-1 of coconut oil containing NAP (50mg kg-1) was implanted and blood samples were obtained 72 h after injection. Results: Both the acute and prolonged exposure induced significant increase in cortisol and a significant decrease (P<0.05) in thyroid hormone T4 levels. Thyroid T3 hormone levels only decreased significantly (P<0.05) after prolonged exposure. Acute exposure resulted in significant decrease (P<0.05) in T3/T4 ratio only in immature fish. On the other hand, prolonged stress increased T3/T4 ratio in immature fish. Conclusion: Changes in the plasma levels of these hormones indicate low physiological capacity and survival potential of fish in waters polluted with naphthalene.


2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
AM Johnstone ◽  
P Faber ◽  
R Andrew ◽  
ER Gibney ◽  
M Elia ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is associated with increased inactivation of cortisol by hepatic A-ring 5alpha- and 5beta-reductases, impaired hepatic regeneration of cortisol from cortisone by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11HSD1), but increased subcutaneous adipose 11HSD1 activity enhancing local cortisol levels in fat. Cause and effect between obesity and abnormal cortisol metabolism is untested. DESIGN: Acute weight loss was induced by very low calorie diet (VLCD) or starvation in obese men. METHODS: Otherwise healthy males (aged 20-55 years; body mass index (BMI) 30-40 kg/m2) were studied after 6 days on a weight maintenance diet; then after either 6 days of starvation (n=6) or 3 weeks of VLCD (2.55 MJ; n=6); then after 1 week of weight maintenance; and finally after 2 weeks of being allowed to feed ad libitum. Plasma samples were obtained from indwelling cannulae at 0930 h and 1815 h and a 24 h urine collection was completed for analysis of cortisol metabolites by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Data are mean+/-S.E.M. BMI fell (kg/m3) from 34.8+/-0.8 at baseline to 31.8+/-1.4 on VLCD and 32.7+/-1.1 on starvation. Starvation caused a rise in plasma cortisol (at 0930 h from 143+/-17 to 216+/-11 nM, P<0.001) but no change in total urinary cortisol metabolites. VLCD did not alter plasma cortisol and markedly reduced cortisol metabolite excretion (from 15.8+/-1.1 mg/day at baseline to 7.0+/-1.1 mg/day, P<0.001). Relative excretion of 5alpha-reduced cortisol metabolites fell on both diets, but there were no changes in cortisol/cortisone metabolite ratios reflecting 11HSD activities. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss with VLCD in obesity reverses up-regulation of hepatic A-ring reductases and normalises cortisol production rate; in contrast, starvation produces acute stress and further activation of cortisol secretion. We suggest that activation of cortisol secretion is not an irreversible intrinsic abnormality in obese patients, and speculate that dietary content has an important influence on the neuroendocrine response to weight loss.


1988 ◽  
Vol 255 (2) ◽  
pp. R248-R251
Author(s):  
R. F. Parrott ◽  
S. N. Thornton ◽  
B. A. Baldwin ◽  
M. L. Forsling

Two studies were carried out to examine endocrine changes during a 60-min period of operant drinking in 24-h dehydrated pigs. Measurements were made of water intake, osmolality, hematocrit, and plasma concentrations of lysine vasopressin (LVP) and cortisol during rehydration (experiment 1) and of fluid intake, osmolality, and LVP levels during consumption of isotonic saline (experiment 2). Increases in osmolality and LVP produced by dehydration in experiment 1 were rapidly reversed during rehydration with the result that osmolality returned to predeprivation levels after 20 min and LVP after 30 min, but there was no evidence of a decrease in LVP before absorption. Plasma cortisol concentrations were unaffected by dehydration although they declined during the final 40 min of experiment 1. In experiment 2, osmolality remained elevated during saline drinking, but plasma concentrations of LVP declined abruptly. The results suggest that oropharyngeal factors inhibiting vasopressin release, revealed during saline ingestion, are obscured during normal rehydration as a result of the rapid rate at which water is absorbed by the gut in this species.


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