1
|
Ghassemi Nejad J, Ghaffari MH, Ataallahi M, Jo JH, Lee HG. Stress Concepts and Applications in Various Matrices with a Focus on Hair Cortisol and Analytical Methods. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223096. [PMID: 36428324 PMCID: PMC9686725 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
When studying stress in animals, it is important to understand the types of stress and their classification, and how to assess the stress levels in different animal species using different matrices accurately and precisely. The classification of stress types helps to distinguish between good stress (eustress) and bad stress (distress). Hence, first, it is crucial to assess the animal's level of stress in a non-intrusive manner and second to identify the type of stress that is best suited to its environment. Third, it is also important to analyze the obtained samples using a suitable method to increase the validity of stress hormone measurements. Therefore, in this review, we aim to: (1) explain the classification of stress, (2) discuss the wide range of body matrices (e.g., saliva, milk, hair, urine, feces, sweat, fins, etc.) that can be used as samples to evaluate stress levels, as well as their comparisons and limitations, and present the reliable matrices for measuring stress hormones with special emphasis on hair, (3) compare the analytical methods for measuring stress hormones after sample preparation. Despite some literature that does not include hair as a reliable matrix for evaluating stress levels, hair is one of the matrices for measuring long-term stress hormone accumulations. This review discusses some factors that influence the level of stress hormones in the hair. By understanding these issues, the scientific community will not only be able to improve the understanding of stress and biomarker evaluation but also suggest how to deal with the consequences of stress in future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mohammad Ataallahi
- College of Animal Life Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Jang-Hoon Jo
- Department of Animal Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
| | - Hong-Gu Lee
- Department of Animal Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-450-0523
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dominance hierarchy and social network in a captive group of white-lipped peccary males: what happens after the alpha male leaves? Acta Ethol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-021-00386-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
3
|
Hein A, Baumgartner K, von Fersen L, Bechshoft T, Woelfing B, Kirschbaum C, Mastromonaco G, Greenwood AD, Siebert U. Analysis of hair steroid hormones in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: comparison with two immunoassays and application for longitudinal monitoring in zoos. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 310:113837. [PMID: 34181933 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) is a promising method for monitoring long-term stress in mammals. However, previous measurements of HCCs in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have yielded highly variable results, which are likely due to different methodological approaches. In this study, hair samples of zoo-housed polar bears were analyzed for cortisol with two independent immunoassays [an enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) and a chemiluminescence assay (CLIA)] and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). HCC measurements depended significantly on assay type applied, sample processing (cutting vs. powdering hair) and their interaction. Best agreement was observed between LC-MS/MS and CLIA (R2 = 0.81 for powdered hair) and sample processing had a minor, albeit significant, effect on obtained HCC measurements in these assays (R2 > 0.9). EIA measurements were consistently higher than with the other assays. HCC measurement was validated biologically for CLIA and LC-MS/MS in one male polar bear that experienced considerable stress for a prolonged period of time (> 18 weeks). Subsequently, by using the validated LC-MS/MS the measurement of cortisol could be complemented by the analysis of other steroids including cortisone, testosterone and progesterone levels from hair samples collected over a 9-month period (5-13 months) from six zoo-housed polar bears (five males, one female). No seasonal steroid variation was observed except in male progesterone levels. For all steroids except cortisone, a strong body region effect (neck or paw) was observed. Cortisol and cortisone, as well as progesterone and testosterone, concentrations were positively correlated. We show that hair steroid concentrations can be used to longitudinally measure stress and reproductive hormone axes in polar bears. The data established herein provide important basic information regarding methodology and study design for assessing hair steroid hormones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Hein
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Thea Bechshoft
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Benno Woelfing
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Biopsychology, Technical University of Dresden, Zellescher Weg 19, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Alex D Greenwood
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173 Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yamanashi Y, Nemoto K, Alejandro J. Social relationships among captive male pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus): Is forming male same-sex pairs a feasible management strategy? Am J Primatol 2021; 83:e23233. [PMID: 33503325 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Little is known about the social behavior of pygmy slow lorises, in particular, the social relationships of same-sex individuals have rarely been investigated. The Slow Loris Conservation Center was built at the Japan Monkey Center to enhance the welfare of confiscated slow lorises, promote their conservation, improve public education, and perform scientific research on the species. In the course of improving housing conditions, several same-sex pairs of pygmy slow lorises were formed. We monitored their behaviors and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels to understand whether male same-sex pairings could be a feasible management strategy. The subjects were 10 male and 6 female lorises for comparison, all of whom were over 5 years old. We successfully formed five pairs of male lorises after eight formation attempts. Male pairs initially showed some aggressive behaviors; however, the rate decreased approximately 10 days after introduction. All of the male pairs eventually exhibited extensive affiliative social behaviors, including allogrooming and social play, during the dark (active) phase, and sleep site sharing during the light (inactive) phase. The rate of sleep site sharing during the light phase was higher than expected, suggesting that the pairs preferred to stay near each other. There was no evidence of increased stress after a long period of male-male social housing. Female same-sex pairs and male-female pairs demonstrated a high level of affiliative behaviors right after the introduction. These results highlight the flexibility and high sociability of this species and indicate that such same-sex pairings are a feasible option for their social management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yumi Yamanashi
- Center for Research and Education of Wildlife (CREW), Kyoto City Zoo, Kyoto, Japan.,Wildlife Research Center (WRC), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bolt LM. Agonistic vocalization behaviour in the male ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta). Primates 2021; 62:417-430. [PMID: 33459940 PMCID: PMC7812342 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-020-00878-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Vocalizations are used by group-living animals as aggressive and submissive signals during agonistic interactions, and are also used to maintain dominance hierarchies in many species. For gregarious strepsirrhines with large vocal repertoires and differentiated dominance ranks like the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), agonistic vocalization use is important to study to better understand their social adaptations.To determine whether ring-tailed lemur vocalizations such as the yip, cackle, twitter, chutter, and plosive bark were used as aggressive or submissive signals during agonism and uttered at different rates by males of differing dominance ranks and ages, 565 h of focal data were collected on 31 individual males aged ≥ 1 year from Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. Yip, cackle, and twitter vocalizations were consistently used during agonistic submissive interactions with both males and females, chutter vocalizations were used during aggressive agonistic interactions with males and submissive agonistic interactions with males and females, and plosive bark vocalizations were used across behavioural contexts but not particularly during agonism. Males of all ages employed all vocalizations, and while low-ranking males uttered yip calls at higher rates, males of all dominance ranks uttered cackle, twitter, chutter, and plosive bark vocalizations. These results advance our knowledge of how male lemurs utilize agonistic vocalizations to maintain inter-individual relationships with males and females, and improve our overall understanding of the function of different agonistic vocalizations in wild lemurs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Bolt
- Department of Anthropology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Matsuzawa T. The Primates 2020 Most-Cited Paper Award. Primates 2020; 61:741-742. [PMID: 33084953 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-020-00865-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
7
|
Bolt LM, Cavanaugh MN, Schreier AL. Lone males: Solitary and group-living male howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) behavioral ecology in a Costa Rican rainforest. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 174:201-212. [PMID: 33017866 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Many group-living primate species have evolved the capacity for some individuals to live alone for part of their lives, but this solitary life stage has rarely been the subject of focused research. The mantled howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) is a social primate species with bisexual dispersal that lives in mixed-sex groups with low male-to-female sex ratios. Consequently, males often spend a long period of their lives as solitary individuals. This study compares the tree use, feeding, and long-distance vocalization behavior of solitary and group-living mantled howler monkey males living within a fragmented rainforest in Costa Rica, La Suerte Biological Research Station. Based on differences in competitive ability between solitary and group-living males, we predicted that lone males would be found in significantly smaller feeding and resting trees, consume more low-quality foods, and produce shorter howling bouts made at lower rates than group-living males. MATERIALS AND METHODS We collected data on tree use and feeding during 30-min focal samples on male focal animals, recording data at 2-min intervals. We measured the trees in which the monkeys fed and rested for two or more intervals, and recorded the plant parts consumed. We recorded howling behavior using all-occurrences sampling. RESULTS Lone males used significantly smaller feeding and resting trees, consumed more low-quality foods, and howled at lower rates but had longer howling bouts triggered by anthropogenic noise more than group-living males. DISCUSSION Our results demonstrate that lone males differ in their behavioral ecology compared to group-living males, thus improving understanding of the solitary male life stage in primates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Bolt
- Department of Anthropology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.,The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy, Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | - Amy L Schreier
- The Maderas Rainforest Conservancy, Miami, Florida, USA.,Department of Biology, Regis University, Denver, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Heimbürge S, Kanitz E, Tuchscherer A, Otten W. Within a hair's breadth - Factors influencing hair cortisol levels in pigs and cattle. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 288:113359. [PMID: 31830475 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
During the last two decades, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) has proven to be a promising marker for the evaluation of increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity caused by repeated or long-term stressful conditions. A minimally invasive sampling procedure, simple storage and the retrospective characteristic of one hair sample are reasons why HCC is increasingly used not only in human medicine but also in animal welfare research. However, before applying HCC as a reliable indicator for stress, it is important to investigate potential influencing factors in addition to stressors in the species of interest. Thus, the aim of our study was to elucidate the impact of age, sex, hair color, body region, age of hair segments and season of hair sampling on HCC in pigs and cattle. Hair samples were taken by electric clippers and analyzed by ELISA after extraction. Our results show similar effects of influencing factors in both species. Significantly increased HCCs were found in young animals after birth compared with older age groups. In addition, HCCs were significantly higher in samples obtained from the tail tip in comparison with samples from the shoulder, neck and back regions, in black hair compared with white hair and in distal hair segments. Season had an impact on HCC only in cattle, which exhibited higher levels in winter than in summer. In conclusion, age, body region, hair color, hair segment and season affect hair cortisol concentrations and should be considered and controlled for when HCC is applied as a potential stress indicator in pigs and cattle. In addition, further research is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms by which cortisol is incorporated into the hair shaft.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susen Heimbürge
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Ellen Kanitz
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Armin Tuchscherer
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Winfried Otten
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Carlitz EHD, Runge JN, König B, Winkler L, Kirschbaum C, Gao W, Lindholm AK. Steroid hormones in hair reveal sexual maturity and competition in wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Sci Rep 2019; 9:16925. [PMID: 31729421 PMCID: PMC6858357 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53362-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine data from wild populations provide important insight into social systems. However, obtaining samples for traditional methods involves capture and restraint of animals, and/or pain, which can influence the animal’s stress level, and thereby undesirable release of hormones. Here, we measured corticosterone, testosterone and progesterone in the hair of 482 wild-derived house mice that experienced sexual competition while living under semi-natural conditions. We tested whether sex, age, weight and indicators of sexual maturity, reproduction and social conflicts predict hormone concentrations measured in hair (sampling at endpoint). We show that body weight, sex and age significantly predict cumulative testosterone and progesterone levels, allowing the differentiation between subadults and adults in both sexes. Corticosterone was only slightly elevated in older males compared to older females and increased with the level of visible injuries or scars. Testosterone in males positively correlated with body weight, age, testes size, and sperm number. Progesterone in females significantly increased with age, body weight, and the number of embryos implanted throughout life, but not with the number of litters when controlled for age and weight. Our results highlight the biological validity of hair steroid measurements and provide important insight into reproductive competition in wild house mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther H D Carlitz
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Jan-Niklas Runge
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara König
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lennart Winkler
- Department of Applied Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna K Lindholm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Sabbi KH, Muller MN, Machanda ZP, Otali E, Fox SA, Wrangham RW, Emery Thompson M. Human-like adrenal development in wild chimpanzees: A longitudinal study of urinary dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate and cortisol. Am J Primatol 2019; 82:e23064. [PMID: 31709585 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The development of the adrenal cortex varies considerably across primates, being most conspicuous in humans, where a functional zona reticularis-the site of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA/S) production-does not develop until middle childhood (5-8 years). Prior reports suggest that a human-like adrenarche, associated with a sharp prepubertal increase in DHEA/S, may only occur in the genus Pan. However, the timing and variability in adrenarche in chimpanzees remain poorly described, owing to the lack of longitudinal data, or data from wild populations. Here, we use urine samples from East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) collected over 20 years at Kanyawara in Kibale National Park, Uganda, to trace the developmental trajectories of DHEAS (n = 1,385 samples, 53 individuals) and cortisol (n = 12,726 samples, 68 individuals). We used generalized additive models (GAM) to investigate the relationship between age, sex, and hormone levels. Adrenarche began earlier in chimpanzees (~2-3 years) compared with what has been reported in humans (6-8 years) and, unlike humans, male and female chimpanzees did not differ significantly in the timing of adrenarche nor in DHEAS concentrations overall. Similar to what has been reported in humans, cortisol production decreased through early life, reaching a nadir around puberty (8-11 years), and a sex difference emerged with males exhibiting higher urinary cortisol levels compared with females by early adulthood (15-16 years). Our study establishes that wild chimpanzees exhibit a human-like pattern of cortisol production during development and corroborates prior reports from captive chimpanzees of a human-like adrenarche, accompanied by significant developmental increases in DHEAS. While the role of these developmental hormone shifts are as yet unclear, they have been implicated in stages of rapid behavioral development once thought unique to humans, especially in regard to explaining the divergence of female and male social behavior before pubertal increases in gonadal hormones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kris H Sabbi
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Martin N Muller
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Zarin P Machanda
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
- Department of Anthropology, Tufts University, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Otali
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| | - Stephanie A Fox
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Richard W Wrangham
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Melissa Emery Thompson
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
- The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, Fort Portal, Uganda
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
The Primates 2019 Most-Cited Paper Award. Primates 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10329-019-00761-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
12
|
Schrock AE, Leard C, Lutz MC, Meyer JS, Gazes RP. Aggression and social support predict long-term cortisol levels in captive tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus [Sapajus] apella). Am J Primatol 2019; 81:e23001. [PMID: 31180152 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Many nonhuman primates live in complex social groups in which they regularly encounter both social stressors such as aggression and social support such as that provided by long-term affiliative relationships. Repeated exposure to social stressors may result in chronically elevated cortisol levels that can have deleterious physical effects such as impaired immune function, cardiovascular disease, and reduced brain function. In contrast, affiliative social relationships may act as a buffer, dampening the release of cortisol in response to acute and chronic stressors. Understanding how social stressors and social support predict cortisol levels is therefore essential to understanding how social situations relate to health and welfare. We studied this relationship in 16 socially housed captive brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus [Sapajus] apella) by comparing long-term hair cortisol levels with behavioral measures of social stress (dominance rank, rank certainty, and amount of aggression received) and social support (amount of affiliation and centrality in the affiliative social network of the group). Dominance rank, rank certainty, amount of affiliation, and age were not significant predictors of long-term cortisol levels in this population. Instead, long-term cortisol levels were positively related to the amount of aggression received and negatively related to centrality in the affiliative social network of the group. This pattern may be attributed to the species' socially tolerant dominance system and to the availability of social support across the dominance hierarchy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allie E Schrock
- Program in Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
| | - Corinne Leard
- Program in Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
| | - Meredith C Lutz
- Program in Animal Behavior and Department of Mathematics, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.,Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Jerrold S Meyer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Regina Paxton Gazes
- Department of Psychology and Program in Animal Behavior, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Heimbürge S, Kanitz E, Otten W. The use of hair cortisol for the assessment of stress in animals. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 270:10-17. [PMID: 30287191 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is assumed to be a retrospective marker of integrated cortisol secretion and stress over longer periods of time. Its quantification is increasingly used in psychoneuroendocrinological studies in humans, but also in animal stress and welfare research. The measurement of HCCs for the assessment of stress offers many considerable benefits for use in domesticated and wild animals, especially due to the easy and minimally invasive sampling procedure and the representation of longer time periods in one sample. This review aims to outline the different fields of application and to assess the applicability and validity of HCC as an indicator for chronic stress or long-term activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in wild and domesticated animals. Specific hair characteristics are presented and the advantages and limitations of using HCC are discussed. An overview of findings on the impact of stress- and health-related factors on HCCs and of diverse influencing factors causing variation in hair cortisol levels in different species is given. Recommendations for the use of hair cortisol analysis are proposed and potential fields of future research are pointed out. The studies indicate an effect of age and pregnancy on HCCs, and cortisol incorporation into hair was also found to depend on hair colour, body region, sex and season of year, but these results are less consistent. Furthermore, the results in animals show that a wide array of stressors and pathological conditions alters the cortisol concentrations in hair and that HCC thereby provides a reliable and valid reflection of long-term cortisol secretion in many species. However, more research is necessary to investigate the underlying mechanisms of cortisol incorporation into the hair and to explore the hair growth characteristics in the species of interest. To overcome confounding influences, the use of standardized sampling protocols is strongly advised.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susen Heimbürge
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Ellen Kanitz
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Winfried Otten
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Koren L, Bryan H, Matas D, Tinman S, Fahlman Å, Whiteside D, Smits J, Wynne‐Edwards K. Towards the validation of endogenous steroid testing in wildlife hair. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lee Koren
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan University Ramat‐Gan Israel
| | - Heather Bryan
- Department of GeographyUniversity of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation Sidney British Columbia Canada
| | - Devorah Matas
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan University Ramat‐Gan Israel
| | - Simon Tinman
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesBar‐Ilan University Ramat‐Gan Israel
| | - Åsa Fahlman
- Swedish Biodiversity CentreSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Douglas Whiteside
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Calgary Calgary Alberta Canada
- Calgary Zoo Alberta Canada
| | - Judit Smits
- Faculty of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Calgary Calgary Alberta Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhang S, Cui Z, Zhang Y, Wang B, Zhu M, Lu J, Wang Z. Low-ranking individuals present high and unstable fecal cortisol levels in provisioned free-ranging adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) during the birth season in a mountain area of northern China. Primates 2018; 59:517-522. [DOI: 10.1007/s10329-018-0692-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
16
|
Cattet M, Stenhouse GB, Boulanger J, Janz DM, Kapronczai L, Swenson JE, Zedrosser A. Can concentrations of steroid hormones in brown bear hair reveal age class? CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy001. [PMID: 29399362 PMCID: PMC5788069 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Although combining genetic and endocrine data from non-invasively collected hair samples has potential to improve the conservation of threatened mammals, few studies have evaluated this opportunity. In this study, we determined if steroid hormone (testosterone, progesterone, estradiol and cortisol) concentration profiles in 169 hair samples collected from free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) could be used to accurately discriminate between immature and adult bears within each sex. Because hair samples were acquired opportunistically, we also needed to establish if interactions between hormones and several non-hormone factors (ordinal day, year, contact method, study area) were associated with age class. For each sex, we first compared a suite of candidate models by Akaike Information Criteria model selection, using different adult-age thresholds (3, 4 and 5 years), to determine the most supported adult age. Because hair hormone levels better reflect the endocrine state at an earlier time, possibly during the previous year, then at the time of sampling, we re-analysed the data, excluding the records for bears at the adult-age threshold, to establish if classification accuracy improved. For both sexes, candidate models were most supported based on a 3-year-old adult-age threshold. Classification accuracy did not improve with the 3-year-old bear data excluded. Male age class was predicted with a high degree of accuracy (88.4%) based on the concomitant concentrations of all four hormones. Female age class was predicted with less accuracy (77.1%) based only on testosterone and cortisol. Accuracy was reduced for females, primarily because we had poor success in correctly classifying immature bears (60%) whereas classification success for adult females was similar to that for males (84.5%). Given the small and unbalanced sample used in this study, our findings should be viewed as preliminary, but they should also provide a basis for more comprehensive future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Cattet
- RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services, 415 Mount Allison Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7H 4A6, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Gordon B Stenhouse
- fRI Research and Alberta Environment and Parks, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, Alberta T7V 1X6, Canada
| | - John Boulanger
- Integrated Ecological Research, 924 Innes Street, Nelson, British Columbia V1L 5T2, Canada
| | - David M Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Luciene Kapronczai
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Jon E Swenson
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Nature Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway and Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Telemark University College of Southeast Norway, NO-3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Department for Integrative Biology, Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna A-1180, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Fardi S, Sauther ML, Cuozzo FP, Jacky IAY, Bernstein RM. The effect of extreme weather events on hair cortisol and body weight in a wild ring-tailed lemur population (Lemur catta) in southwestern Madagascar. Am J Primatol 2017; 80. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Fardi
- Department of Anthropology; University of Colorado; Boulder Colorado
| | | | - Frank P. Cuozzo
- Lajuma Research Centre; Louis Trichardt (Mahkado) South Africa
| | - Ibrahim A. Y. Jacky
- Laboratoire de Biologie Animale et Ecologie Terrestre; Faculté des Sciences; Université de Toliara; Toliara Madagascar
| | - Robin M. Bernstein
- Department of Anthropology; University of Colorado; Boulder Colorado
- Health and Society Program; Institute of Behavioral Science; University of Colorado; Boulder Colorado
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Social relationship and hair cortisol level in captive male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Primates 2017; 59:145-152. [DOI: 10.1007/s10329-017-0641-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
19
|
Relationships between affiliative social behavior and hair cortisol concentrations in semi-free ranging rhesus monkeys. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 84:109-115. [PMID: 28700960 PMCID: PMC5555374 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sociality is a fundamental aspect of human behavior and health. One benefit of affiliative social relationships is reduced short-term levels of glucocorticoids (GCs), which are indicative of physiological stress. Less is known, however, about chronic GC production in relation to affiliative social behavior. To address this issue, we studied a semi-free ranging troop of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and collected hair samples to measure hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs), as a measure of chronic GC production, during routine biannual exams. We collected social behavior (both aggressive and affiliative) and hair samples for 32 adult female rhesus macaques over one year (Experiment 1). Our results indicated that adult females who initiated higher levels of social affiliation had significantly lower levels of HCCs. Neither the initiation nor the receipt of aggression were significantly related to HCCs in this study. In a second experiment we studied 28 mother-infant dyads for the first 90days postpartum to examine mother-infant facial interactions (i.e. mutual gazing). We analyzed HCCs during weaning approximately one year later, which is a major transitional period. We found that infants that engaged in higher levels of mutual gazing in the first 90days postpartum had significantly lower levels of HCCs during weaning. Finally, we studied 17 infant rhesus macaques (13 males) to examine whether social behavior (such as play) in the first five months of life correlated with infant HCCs over those months (Experiment 3). We found that infant males that engaged in more social play had significantly lower levels of HCCs. By relying on an animal model, our study shows that affiliative social traits are associated with lower long-term GC production. Future research should address the complex interactions between social behavior, chronic GC production, and mental and physical health.
Collapse
|
20
|
Cattet M, Stenhouse GB, Janz DM, Kapronczai L, Anne Erlenbach J, Jansen HT, Nelson OL, Robbins CT, Boulanger J. The quantification of reproductive hormones in the hair of captive adult brown bears and their application as indicators of sex and reproductive state. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 5:cox032. [PMID: 28580147 PMCID: PMC5452076 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cox032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Recognizing the potential value of steroid hormone measurements to augment non-invasive genetic sampling, we developed procedures based on enzyme-linked immunoassays to quantify reproductive steroid hormone concentrations in brown bear (Ursus arctos) hair. Then, using 94 hair samples collected from eight captive adult bears over a 2-year period, we evaluated (i) associations between hair concentrations of testosterone, progesterone, estradiol and cortisol; (ii) the effect of collecting by shaving vs. plucking; and (iii) the utility of reproductive hormone profiles to differentiate sex and reproductive state. Sample requirements (125 mg of guard hair) to assay all hormones exceeded amounts typically obtained by non-invasive sampling. Thus, broad application of this approach will require modification of non-invasive techniques to collect larger samples, use of mixed (guard and undercoat) hair samples and/or application of more sensitive laboratory procedures. Concentrations of hormones were highly correlated suggesting their sequestration in hair reflects underlying physiological processes. Marked changes in hair hormone levels during the quiescent phase of the hair cycle, coupled with the finding that progesterone concentrations, and their association with testosterone levels, differed markedly between plucked and shaved hair samples, suggests steroids sequestered in hair were likely derived from various sources, including skin. Changes in hair hormone concentrations over time, and in conjunction with key reproductive events, were similar to what has been reported concerning hormonal changes in the blood serum of brown bears. Thus, potential for the measurement of hair reproductive hormone levels to augment non-invasive genetic sampling appears compelling. Nonetheless, we are conducting additional validation studies on hair collected from free-ranging bears, representative of all sex, age and reproductive classes, to fully evaluate the utility of this approach for brown bear conservation and research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Cattet
- RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services, 415 Mount Allison Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaS7H 4A6
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaS7N 5B4
- Corresponding author: RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services, 415 Mount Allison Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7H 4A6. Tel: +1-306-280-3782.
| | - Gordon B. Stenhouse
- fRI Research and Alberta Environment and Parks, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, Alberta, CanadaT7V 1X6
| | - David M. Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaS7N 5B4
| | - Luciene Kapronczai
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, CanadaS7N 5B3
| | - Joy Anne Erlenbach
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, PO Box 642812, Pullman, WA99164, USA
| | - Heiko T. Jansen
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 1815 Ferdinand's Lane, Veterinary and Biomedical Research Building 205, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - O. Lynne Nelson
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, PO Box 647010, Pullman, WA 99164,USA
| | - Charles T. Robbins
- School of the Environment and School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, PO Box 644236, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - John Boulanger
- Integrated Ecological Research, 924 Innes Street, Nelson, British Columbia, CanadaV1L 5T2
| |
Collapse
|