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Wojtaś J, Czyżowski P, Kaszycka K, Kaliszyk K, Karpiński M. The Impact of Environmental Enrichment on the Cortisol Level of Shelter Cats. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1392. [PMID: 38731396 PMCID: PMC11083262 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Enriching cats' living environment in shelters is crucial in reducing their stress. Easier access to resources allows cats to display natural behavior. This study aimed to assess whether cats staying in an enriched environment would be less stressed than cats staying in a standard environment. The first group consisted of cats living in an environment with fewer resources (standard environment)-103 cats. The second group consisted of cats living in an enriched environment-76 cats. The research material consisted of hair collected to determine the cortisol level. The results indicate that cats from a more enriched environment have almost half the level of cortisol in hair than cats from an environment with fewer resources (0.059 ng/mg vs. 0.101 ng/mg; p = 0.000001).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Piotr Czyżowski
- Department of Animal Ethology and Wildlife Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland; (J.W.); (K.K.); (K.K.); (M.K.)
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Broche N, Gris V, Suda-Hashimoto N, Mouri K, Miyabe-Nishiwaki T, Suzuki J, Huffman MA. Housing relocation does not have to induce a significant stress response in captive Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). J Med Primatol 2023; 52:347-352. [PMID: 37525380 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies suggest that housing relocation may be stressful for captive non-human primates. Our study investigated the stress levels of Japanese macaques during a housing relocation by measuring their daily fecal cortisol metabolites, which are often used as an indicator of stress. METHODS Ten adult Japanese macaques, single-housed for research purposes, were relocated to a new facility. Fecal samples were collected daily for 7 days. Cortisol metabolite concentrations were determined via enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS No significant differences in cortisol metabolite levels were found in 7 days, but concentration levels showed that the highest median was associated to the relocation day. CONCLUSIONS The minimal cortisol metabolite increase suggests that there was a slight activity increase in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Techniques encouraging cooperation of the monkeys, the short time duration of the relocation, and consistency in the environment may have contributed to the minimal stress levels observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Broche
- Social Systems Evolution Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Inuyama Campus, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Vanessa Gris
- Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Naoko Suda-Hashimoto
- Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Keiko Mouri
- Social Systems Evolution Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Inuyama Campus, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Takako Miyabe-Nishiwaki
- Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Juri Suzuki
- Center for Human Evolution Modeling Research, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
| | - Michael A Huffman
- Social Systems Evolution Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Inuyama Campus, Inuyama, Japan
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Colding-Jørgensen P, Hestehave S, Abelson KSP, Kalliokoski O. Hair glucocorticoids are not a historical marker of stress - Exploring the time-scale of corticosterone incorporation into hairs in a rat model. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 341:114335. [PMID: 37302763 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Hair glucocorticoids are increasingly popular biomarkers, used across numerous research fields, and studied species, as a measure of stress. Although they are suggested to be a proxy of the average HPA axis activity spanning a period of weeks or months into the past, this theory has never been tested. In the present study, adrenalectomized rats with no endogenous (adrenal) glucocorticoid production were used to study how circulating glucocorticoid levels would be reflected in the glucocorticoid levels found in hair samples. By dosing the animals daily with high levels of corticosterone for seven days, while sampling hairs before, during, and after treatments, a timeline for glucocorticoid uptake into hairs was constructed. This kinetic profile was compared to two hypothetical models, and the theory that hair glucocorticoids are a record of historical stress had to be rejected. Corticosterone concentrations in hairs were found to increase within three hours of the first injection, the highest concentrations were found on the seventh day of treatments, and the decrease in concentrations post-treatment suggests rapid elimination. We speculate that hair glucocorticoid levels can only be used to characterize a stress-response for a few days following a postulated stressor. An updated model, where glucocorticoids diffuse into, along, and out of hairs needs to be adopted to reconcile the experimentally obtained data. The inescapable consequence of this updated model is that hair glucocorticoids become a marker of - and can only be used to study - recent, or ongoing, stress, as opposed to historical events, weeks or months in the past.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pernille Colding-Jørgensen
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Hestehave
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Klas S P Abelson
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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4
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Dettmer AM, Novak MA, Meyer JS. Are hair cortisol levels dependent on hair growth rate? A pilot study in rhesus macaques. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 340:114308. [PMID: 37244411 PMCID: PMC10330586 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2023.114308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Research incorporating the analysis of glucocorticoids, specifically cortisol, in hair samples has exploded over the past 10-15 years, yet factors contributing to the accumulation of cortisol in hair are not yet fully characterized. In particular, it is not clear whether cortisol accumulation in hair is dependent on hair growth rate, a possibility raised by prior rodent studies reporting glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of hair growth. Using rhesus macaque monkeys (Macaca mulatta), an extensively studied nonhuman primate species, the present pilot study evaluated the hypothesis that hair cortisol accumulation is inversely related to hair growth rate (i.e., slower hair growth leading to elevated cortisol levels). Hair samples were collected from 19 adult female macaques and 17 infants (9 males) 3 months apart using a shave-reshave procedure from the same site below the posterior vertex of the scalp. The second hair samples were measured to the nearest millimeter (mm) for growth rate over the previous 3 months and assayed for hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) using enzyme immunoassay. Because of the possibility of age-related differences in hair growth rate, correlational analyses were performed separately for adults and infants to determine whether HCC values were associated with growth rate in each age group. These analyses revealed that neither group displayed a significant correlation of HCCs with hair growth. The results additionally showed that overall, adults had a faster hair growth rate than infants and, as expected from previous studies, had lower HCCs than infants. Our results suggest that higher HCCs within the non-stress range do not result from cortisol-mediated inhibition of hair growth. Moreover, similarities between humans and macaque monkeys in both HPA axis regulation and hair growth rates argue that these findings are relevant for human hair cortisol studies. Extrapolation to other species in which the features of hair growth and the relevant regulatory mechanisms are less well understood should be done with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Dettmer
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, 230 S. Frontage Road, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Melinda A Novak
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, 135 Hicks Way, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Jerrold S Meyer
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, 135 Hicks Way, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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Clancy BM, Theriault BR, Turcios R, Langan GP, Luchins KR. The Effect of Noise, Vibration, and Light Disturbances from Daily Health Checks on Breeding Performance, Nest Building, and Corticosterone in Mice. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2023; 62:291-302. [PMID: 37339873 PMCID: PMC10434751 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-23-000002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
At our institution, the techniques that technicians use for health checks vary for mice housed in cages on individually ventilated caging (IVC) racks. If the mice cannot be adequately visualized, some technicians partially undock the cage whereas others use an LED flashlight. These actions undoubtedly alter the cage microenvironment, particularly with regard to noise, vibration, and light, which are known to affect multiple welfare and research-related parameters in mice. The central aim of this study was to assess the effects of partial cage undocking and LED flashlight use during daily health checks on fecundity, nest building scores, and hair corticosterone concentrations in C57BL/6J mice to determine the least disturbing method of performing these health checks. In addition, we used an accelerometer, a microphone, and a light meter to measure intracage noise, vibration, and light under each condition. Breeding pairs (n = 100 pairs) were randomly assigned to one of 3 health check groups: partial undocking, LED flashlight, or control (in which mice were observed without any cage manipulation). We hypothesized that mice exposed to a flashlight or cage undocking during daily health checks would have fewer pups, poorer nest building scores, and higher hair corticosterone levels than did the control mice. We found no statistically significant difference in fecundity, nest building scores, or hair corticosterone levels between either experimental group as compared with the control group. However, hair corticosterone levels were significantly affected by the cage height on the rack and the amount of time on study. These results indicate that a short duration, once-daily exposure to partial cage undocking or to an LED flashlight during daily healthy checks does not affect breeding performance or wellbeing, as measured by nest scores and hair corticosterone levels, in C57BL/6J mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget M Clancy
- Animal Resources Center and Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Betty R Theriault
- Animal Resources Center and Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rebecca Turcios
- Animal Resources Center and Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - George P Langan
- Animal Resources Center and Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Kerith R Luchins
- Animal Resources Center and Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Jackson MN, Truelove MA, Williams K, Chen J, Moore RH, Wood JS, Cohen JK, Mollie B. Effects of pair housing on behavior, cortisol, and clinical outcomes during quarantine-like procedures for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). J Med Primatol 2023; 52:108-120. [PMID: 36744630 PMCID: PMC10228144 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compatible pair housing of macaques in research settings increases species-typical behaviors and facilitates beneficial social buffering. It is not yet established whether these benefits are maintained after intrafacility transfer and domestic quarantine, which are two stressors that can lead to behavioral and clinical abnormalities. METHODS We evaluated 40 adolescent male rhesus macaques who were single- or pair-housed immediately following an intrafacility transfer. We measured behavior, fecal cortisol, body weight, and diarrhea occurrence. Body weight and diarrhea occurrence were also retrospectively analyzed in an additional 120 adolescent rhesus who underwent a similar transfer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Pair-housed macaques exhibited less of some undesirable behaviors (e.g., self-clasping) and experienced less diarrhea than single-housed subjects; however, no significant differences in cortisol levels or alopecia measures were found. The demonstrated beneficial effects of pair housing for rhesus macaques following intrafacility transfer and adjustment suggest pairing upon arrival at a new facility will bolster animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina N Jackson
- Animal Resources, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Melissa A Truelove
- Behavioral Management, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kimberly Williams
- Behavioral Management, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jiandong Chen
- Biostatistics Collaboration Core, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Reneé H Moore
- Biostatistics Collaboration Core, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jennifer S Wood
- Animal Resources, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joyce K Cohen
- Animal Resources, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bloomsmith Mollie
- Behavioral Management, Emory National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Jackson M, Foret BL, Fontenot J, Hasselschwert D, Smith J, Romero E, Smith KM. Molecular examination of the endogenous opioid system in rhesus macaque monkeys with self-injurious behavior. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:70-85. [PMID: 36131680 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Self-injurious behavior (SIB) can lead to serious injury and occurs in approximately 1%-4% of the adult population, with higher incidences in adolescent and institutionalized populations, as well as in children with developmental disorders such as Autism. SIB also spontaneously occurs in a low percentage of captive monkeys. Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) monkeys are evolutionarily and physiologically similar to humans, share 93% genetic sequence similarity to humans, and have long been used as testing subjects for vaccine and clinical trials. Previous studies hypothesized that altered endogenous opioid expression occurs in the brains of individuals and animals that self-injure. We examined the regional mRNA expression of opioid signaling genes in sixteen rhesus macaques that exhibited SIB and eight sex- and age- matched controls. The brain regions examined are linked to reward reinforcement and stress adaptation including the hypothalamus, orbital frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, caudate, and the amygdala. We found decreased μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) in the amygdala of monkeys with SIB, and reduced prodynorphin (PDYN) in the hypothalamus. Our data suggest dysfunction in the regulation of opioid peptide precursors and calls for further investigation of the endogenous opioid system in SIB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marques Jackson
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
| | - Brittany L Foret
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jane Fontenot
- New Iberia Research Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, New Iberia, Louisiana, USA
| | - Dana Hasselschwert
- New Iberia Research Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, New Iberia, Louisiana, USA
| | - Josh Smith
- New Iberia Research Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, New Iberia, Louisiana, USA
| | - Emily Romero
- New Iberia Research Center, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, New Iberia, Louisiana, USA
| | - Karen Müller Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
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8
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Liu C, Guo X, Si H, Li G. A mink (Neovison vison) model of self-injury: Effects of CBP-CREB axis on neuronal damage and behavior. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:975112. [DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.975112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveSelf-injurious behavior (SIB) is a clinically challenging problem in the general population and several clinical disorders. However, the precise molecular mechanism of SIB is still not clear. In this paper, the systematic investigation of the genesis and development of SIB is conducted based on behavioral and pathophysiology studies in mink (Neovison vison) models.MethodThe night-vision video was used to observe the mink behavior, and the duration was a month. HE stain was performed to characterize the pathology change in the brain of a mink. IHC assay was performed to conduct the protein level detection of Iba-1, p-CREB, CBP, and p300 in the brain tissues. Elisa assay was used to examine the levels of NfL and NfH in serum and CSF of mink. The qRT-PCR assay was used to detect the expression of Bcl-2, NOR1, FoxO4, c-FOS, CBP, and p300 in brain tissues. Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of p-CREB, CBP, and p300 in brain tissues. We also used Evans Blue as a tracer to detect whether the blood-brain barrier was impaired in the brain of mink.ResultThe behavioral test, histopathological and molecular biology experiments were combined in this paper, and the results showed that CBP was related to SIB. Mechanism analysis showed that the dysregulation of CBP in brain-activated CREB signaling will result in nerve damage of the brain and SIB symptoms in minks. More importantly, the CBP-CREB interaction inhibitor might help relieve SIB and nerve damage in brain tissues.ConclusionOur results illustrate that the induction of CBP and the activation of CREB are novel mechanisms in the genesis of SIB. This finding indicates that the CBP-CREB axis is critical for SIB and demonstrates the efficacy of the CBP-CREB interaction inhibitor in treating these behaviors.
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Lloveras LA, Slanzi CM, Vollmer TR. New (old) perspectives on self‐injurious and aggressive biting. J Appl Behav Anal 2022; 55:674-687. [DOI: 10.1002/jaba.924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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10
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van der Laan JE, Vinke CM, Arndt SS. Evaluation of hair cortisol as an indicator of long-term stress responses in dogs in an animal shelter and after subsequent adoption. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5117. [PMID: 35449215 PMCID: PMC9023568 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09140-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Shelter dogs are exposed to a variety of stressors. Among non-invasive techniques, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is suggested an easy to collect biomarker for giving insight into long-term stress responses. We evaluated HCC as an indicator of long-term cortisol responses in dogs in an animal shelter over different chronological time points during sheltering and after adoption. Hair samples were collected from the neck region following a shave/re-shave protocol of shelter dogs (total n = 52) at four different time periods: T1 intake at shelter (pre-shelter period, n = 51); T2 after 6 weeks in the shelter (n = 23); T3 6 weeks after adoption (n = 24); T4 6 months after adoption (n = 22). HCC at T2 was significantly higher than HCC at T1, T3 and T4 (effect of sample collection moment: F3,41 = 12.78, p < 0.0001). The dog’s weight class, age class, sex, reason for admission, kennel history and melanin type also explained HCC variability. No significant difference in HCC was found between shelter dogs T1 and control pet dogs in their own homes (n = 20, one sample, t = − 1.24, p = 0.219). A significant but moderate positive correlation between HCC and urinary cortisol:creatinine ratios was found (т = 0.3, p < 0.001). As HCC increased in the shelter, the use of this non-invasive parameter appears a useful additional tool in dog welfare research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janneke Elisabeth van der Laan
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Population Health Sciences - Division of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80166, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Claudia Maureen Vinke
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Population Health Sciences - Division of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80166, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia Stefanie Arndt
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Population Health Sciences - Division of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80166, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Lutz CK, Coleman K, Hopper LM, Novak MA, Perlman JE, Pomerantz O. Nonhuman primate abnormal behavior: Etiology, assessment, and treatment. Am J Primatol 2022; 84:e23380. [PMID: 35383995 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Across captive settings, nonhuman primates may develop an array of abnormal behaviors including stereotypic and self-injurious behavior. Abnormal behavior can indicate a state of poor welfare, since it is often associated with a suboptimal environment. However, this may not always be the case as some behaviors can develop independently of any psychological distress, be triggered in environments known to promote welfare, and be part of an animal's coping mechanism. Furthermore, not all animals develop abnormal behavior, which has led researchers to assess risk factors that differentiate individuals in the display of these behaviors. Intrinsic risk factors that have been identified include the animal's species and genetics, age, sex, temperament, and clinical condition, while environmental risk factors include variables such as the animal's rearing, housing condition, husbandry procedures, and research experiences. To identify specific triggers and at-risk animals, the expression of abnormal behavior in captive nonhuman primates should be routinely addressed in a consistent manner by appropriately trained staff. Which behaviors to assess, what assessment methods to use, which primates to monitor, and the aims of data collection should all be identified before proceeding to an intervention and/or treatment. This article provides guidance for this process, by presenting an overview of known triggers and risk factors that should be considered, steps to design a comprehensive evaluation plan, and strategies that might be used for prevention or treatment. It also outlines the tools and processes for assessing and evaluating behavior in an appendix. This process will lead to a better understanding of abnormal behavior in captive primate colonies and ultimately to improved welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrine K Lutz
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Research, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kristine Coleman
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, Oregon, USA
| | - Lydia M Hopper
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Melinda A Novak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jaine E Perlman
- Division of Animal Resources, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ori Pomerantz
- Population and Behavioral Health Services, California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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Cohen RL, Drewes JL, Queen SE, Freeman ZT, Pate KM, Adams RJ, Graham DR, Hutchinson EK. Elucidation of the Central Serotonin Metabolism Pathway in Rhesus Macaques ( Macaca mulatta) with Self-injurious Behavior. Comp Med 2021; 71:466-473. [PMID: 34794530 PMCID: PMC8715763 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-21-000020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Macaques with self-injurious behavior (SIB) have been used as a model of human SIB and have previously been shown to respond to treatments targeting enhancement of central serotonin signaling, whether by supplementation with tryptophan, or by inhibiting synaptic reuptake. Decreased serotonin signaling in the brain has also been implicated in many human psychopathologies including major depression disorder. A disturbance in tryptophan metabolism that moves away from the production of serotonin and toward the production of kynurenine has been proposed as a major etiological factor of depression. We hypothesized that in macaques with SIB, central tryptophan metabolism would be shifted toward kynurenine production, leading to lower central serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). We analyzed tryptophan metabolites in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of macaques with and without SIB to determine whether and where tryptophan metabolism is altered in affected animals as compared with behaviorally normal controls. We found that macaques with SIB had lower CSF concentrations of serotonin than did behaviorally normal macaques, and that these deficits were inversely correlated with the severity of abnormal behavior. However, our results suggest that this decrease is not due to shifting of the tryptophan metabolic pathway toward kynurenine, as concentrations of kynurenine were also low. Concentrations of IL6 were elevated, suggesting central inflammation. Determining the mechanism by which serotonin function is altered in self-injurious macaques could shed light on novel therapies for SIB and other disorders of serotonin signaling.
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Key Words
- 3hk, 3-hydroxykynurenine
- 5hiaa, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid
- 5-ht, serotonin
- d, depression
- ido, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme
- mrm, multiple reaction monitoring
- nhps, nonhuman primates
- nsf, no significant findings
- ptsd, post-traumatic stress disorder
- tdo, sd, suicidal depression
- sib, self-injurious behavior
- tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase enzyme
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael L Cohen
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Julia L Drewes
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Suzanne E Queen
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Zachary T Freeman
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kelly Metcalf Pate
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Robert J Adams
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - David R Graham
- Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Eric K Hutchinson
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD;,
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Nehete PN, Nehete BP, Patel AG, Chitta S, Scholtzova H, Williams LE. Short-Term Relocation Stress-Induced Hematological and Immunological Changes in Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:5318590. [PMID: 34840989 PMCID: PMC8616703 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5318590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonhuman primates are frequently transported to a new location or temporarily relocated within their colony. Both transportation and relocation expose animals to new environments, causing them to undergo a stress response (before adapting). In our NHP colony, the mentioned situations are not infrequent for many reasons, including maintenance. The objective of this study was to determine whether abrupt changes consisting of relocation, housing, separation, and grouping could influence hematological and immunological parameters and thereby functional activity. The current study used squirrel monkeys as a model to investigate the stress-inducing effects of relocation within a facility, while animals acclimated to new situations (physical, housing). A detailed blood analysis revealed significant changes in lymphocytes, triglycerides, total protein, creatinine, and ALT. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood showed reduction in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells and monocytes, while B cells and natural killer (NK) cells changed with relocation. Simultaneously, changes in functional activity of immune cells altered proliferative responses and as shown by ELISpot (IFN γ). Though the parameters studied are not affected as severely as those in animals transported by road or air, stress responses induced by intrafacility relocation are significant and worth consideration. Our findings indicate that squirrel monkeys mimic the features seen in humans exposed to social stressors and may serve an important model for understanding the mechanisms of stress-induced immune dysfunction in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod N. Nehete
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bharti P. Nehete
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - Akash G. Patel
- Center for Cognitive Neurology and Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sriram Chitta
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - Henrieta Scholtzova
- Center for Cognitive Neurology and Department of Neurology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lawrence E. Williams
- Department of Comparative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA
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14
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Novak MA, Meyer JS. A Rhesus Monkey Model of Non-suicidal Self-Injury. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:674127. [PMID: 34421551 PMCID: PMC8374142 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.674127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a type of behavioral pathology seen not only in a variety of clinical conditions but also among non-clinical populations, particularly adolescents and young adults. With the exception of rare genetic conditions that give rise to self-harming behaviors, the etiology of NSSI and the events that trigger specific episodes of this behavior remain poorly understood. This review presents the features of an important, extensively studied animal model of NSSI, namely spontaneously occurring self-injurious behavior (SIB) in rhesus macaque monkeys. We compare and contrast rhesus monkey SIB with NSSI with respect to form, prevalence rates, environmental and biological risk factors, behavioral correlates, proposed functions, and treatment modalities. Many parallels between rhesus monkey SIB and NSSI are demonstrated, which supports the validity of this animal model across several domains. Determining the etiology of spontaneously occurring SIB in monkeys, its underlying biological mechanisms, and which pharmacological agents are most effective for treating the disorder may aid in identifying potential risk factors for the occurrence of NSSI in humans and developing medications for severe cases that are resistant to conventional psychotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Novak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Jerrold S Meyer
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
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15
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Zijlmans DGM, Meijer L, Vernes MK, Wubben JAM, Hofman L, Louwerse AL, Sterck EHM, Langermans JAM, Stammes MA. Effect of Housing Conditions on Cortisol and Body Fat Levels in Female Rhesus Macaques. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:744. [PMID: 34439976 PMCID: PMC8389645 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Macaques are among the most commonly used non-human primates in biomedical research. They are highly social animals, yet biomedical studies often require group-living animals to be pair-housed in a controlled environment. A change in environment causes only short-term stress in adapting individuals, while non-adapting animals may experience long-term stress that can adversely affect study results. Individuals likely differ in their ability to adapt depending on individual characteristics. Changes in cortisol and body fat levels may reflect these different individual responses. Here, we investigate the long-term effect of a change from group- to pair-housing on cortisol and body fat levels in 32 female rhesus macaques, exploring whether age, dominance rank, original cortisol, and body fat levels are related to long-term stress in pair-housing. Hair samples were analyzed for cortisol levels, while anthropometric measurements and computed tomography were performed to quantify body fat. Monkeys served as their own control with a 7.5-month period between the measurements. Cortisol levels increased, while average body fat levels did not differ when individuals were moved from group- to pair-housing. Cortisol and body fat levels were not significantly correlated. Changes in cortisol were independent of age and dominance rank, whereas individual variation in body fat alterations was related to the group-housed body fat level and dominance rank. Although this study did not identify individual characteristics related to long-term stress in pair-housing, the individual variation confirms that some individuals are more resilient to change than others and provides possibilities for future refinement studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian G. M. Zijlmans
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lisette Meijer
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Marit K. Vernes
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Jacqueline A. M. Wubben
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Linda Hofman
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Annet L. Louwerse
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Elisabeth H. M. Sterck
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, 3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A. M. Langermans
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
- Department Population Health Sciences, Unit Animals in Science & Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke A. Stammes
- Biomedical Primate Research Centre, 2288 GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands; (L.M.); (M.K.V.); (J.A.M.W.); (L.H.); (A.L.L.); (E.H.M.S.); (J.A.M.L.); (M.A.S.)
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16
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Conrad RC, Hahm H“C, Koire A, Pinder-Amaker S, Liu CH. College student mental health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications of campus relocation. J Psychiatr Res 2021; 136:117-126. [PMID: 33588225 PMCID: PMC8635290 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.01.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE During the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities evacuated their campuses, requiring students to vacate on campus residences. The psychological outcomes of students who relocated during the pandemic remains unknown. We examined mandated relocation experiences related to self-reported worry, grief, loneliness, and depressive, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional survey data obtained from April 9 to August 4, 2020 on 791 young adults (ages 18-30 years) who were enrolled at a U.S. university. The CARES 2020 Project (COVID-19 Adult Resilience Experiences Study) is an online survey of young adults' mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recruitment relied on snowball sampling. Participants were asked if they were required to relocate from campus and among those who did, their experiences in moving. COVID-19-related worry and grief, loneliness, and depressive, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms were assessed. RESULTS Approximately one-third of students reported being mandated to relocate. Students mandated to relocate reported more COVID-19-related grief, loneliness, and generalized anxiety symptoms compared to those who did not even after controlling for the severity level of local COVID-19 outbreaks. Students who had to leave behind valuable personal belongings reported more COVID-19-related worries, grief, and depressive, generalized anxiety, and PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Students who were mandated to relocate reported worse psychological outcomes compared to students who were not mandated to relocate. Our findings have implications for addressing the psychological impact of evacuating college campuses during public health emergencies and other disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C. Conrad
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hyeouk “Chris” Hahm
- School of Social Work, Boston University, 264 Bay State Rd, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Amanda Koire
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Stephanie Pinder-Amaker
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA,McLean Hospital, 115 Mill St, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Cindy H. Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA,Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA, 02115, USA,Department of Newborn Medicine, 221 Longwood Avenue, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA,Corresponding author. Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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17
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Ceniceros LC, Capitanio JP, Kinnally EL. Prenatal Relocation Stress Enhances Resilience Under Challenge in Infant Rhesus Macaques. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:641795. [PMID: 33854420 PMCID: PMC8039121 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.641795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prenatal period is a developmental stage of peak sensitivity, during which environmental exposures can program post-natal developmental outcomes. Prenatal stress, in particular, has often been associated with detrimental neurobehavioral outcomes like mood and anxiety disorders. In the present study, we examined the effects of a stressful prenatal maternal experience (maternal relocation during pregnancy) on the post-partum development of offspring in rhesus macaques. To help isolate the effects of prenatal stress from genetic predispositions and post-natal experience, we compared biologically reared infants (infants raised with their biological mothers) with cross-fostered infants (those raised by non-related females in new social groups). We examined the effects of prenatal relocation stress on measures collected at 3-4 months of age during a standardized biobehavioral assessment. Unexpectedly, we found that prenatal stress resulted in a behavioral pattern consistent with resilience rather than anxiety: prenatal stress was linked with greater activity, lower anxiety, and more interaction with novel objects, as well as higher ratings of temperamental confidence during assessment. These effects were observed in infants reared by biological mothers as well as cross-fostered infants, suggesting that the effects of prenatal stress were not attributable to maternal genetics or post-natal factors. Our surprising results suggest that prenatal relocation stress may confer resilience in infant rhesus monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lesly C Ceniceros
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - John P Capitanio
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Erin L Kinnally
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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18
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Courtemanche AB, Black WR, Meyer JS. Hair Cortisol and Self-Injurious Behavior Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2021; 126:158-166. [PMID: 33651886 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-126.2.158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Elevated salivary cortisol levels have been documented in individuals who engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB), indicating acute physiological stress. Less is known about the chronicity of stress and SIB. We analyzed the relationship between parent ratings of problem behavior and hair cortisol concentrations (an index of chronic adrenocortical activity) in 23 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parent ratings of problem behavior were not significantly correlated with hair cortisol concentrations. When children were categorized into groups based on the frequency and severity of SIB, participants with the greatest frequency and severity of SIB had higher hair cortisol concentrations compared to children without SIB. Frequent and severe SIB may be associated with altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in children with ASD.
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19
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Effects of relocation on immunological and physiological measures in female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis boliviensis). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0240705. [PMID: 33635869 PMCID: PMC7909711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we have quantified the effects of transport, relocation and acclimate/adapt to their new surroundings on female squirrel monkey. These responses are measured in blood samples obtained from squirrel monkeys, at different time points relative to their relocation from their old home to their new home. A group of squirrel monkeys we transported, by truck, for approximately 10 hours. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assayed in order to evaluate the phenotype of lymphocyte subsets by flow, mitogen-specific immune responses of PBMCs in vitro, and levels of cytokines at various time points including immediately before transport, immediately upon arrival, and after approximately 150 days of acclimation. We observed significant changes in T cells and subsets, NK and B cells (CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, CD16+, and CD20+). Mitogen specific (e.g. PHA, PWM and LPS) proliferation responses, IFN-γ by ELISPOT assay, and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4 and VEGF) significant changes were observed. Changes seen in the serum chemistry measurements mostly complement those seen in the hematology data. The specific goal was to empirically assess the effects of relocation stress in squirrel monkeys in terms of changes in the numbers and functions of various leukocyte subsets in the blood and the amount of time required for acclimating to their new environment. Such data will help to determine when newly arrived animals become available for use in research studies.
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20
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El Mlili N, Ahabrach H, Cauli O. Hair Cortisol Concentration as a Biomarker of Sleep Quality and Related Disorders. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11020081. [PMID: 33499247 PMCID: PMC7911396 DOI: 10.3390/life11020081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cortisol is the end product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and its production is increased mainly in stressful situations or in chronic disorders accompanied by stress enhancement. Altered cortisol concentrations have been reported in a number of neuropsychiatric diseases and sleep disorders. Cortisol concentrations have been measured using several methods, and in several matrixes, such as blood, saliva, and urine. However, lately, hair cortisol, for several reasons, has emerged as a promising biomarker of long-term retrospective HPA activation. Several experimental approaches for cortisol measurement with the corresponding concentration reference ranges and a summary of findings from scientific literature on this field are presented. There is evidence of a close relationship between HPA functional alteration and the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Sleep disorders are the most common manifestation in several neuropsychiatric conditions, and have also been associated to cortisol alterations in both adults and children. Many studies indicate that hair cortisol constitutes a valuable tool for further contributing to existing data on salivary, plasma, or urinary cortisol concentrations in patients with sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisrin El Mlili
- Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS), 93000 Tetouan, Morocco; (N.E.M.); (H.A.)
- Department of Biology and Health, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, 93000 Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Hanan Ahabrach
- Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques (ISPITS), 93000 Tetouan, Morocco; (N.E.M.); (H.A.)
- Department of Biology and Health, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, 93000 Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Group (FROG), University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Chair of Healthy, Active and Participatory Aging, Valencia City Council, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Correspondence:
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21
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Novak MA. Self-Injurious behavior in rhesus macaques: Issues and challenges. Am J Primatol 2020; 83:e23222. [PMID: 33368425 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Some monkeys housed in research facilities develop abnormal behavior ranging from stereotypic to the more serious condition of self-injurious behavior (SIB). We initially sought to understand how and why monkeys engaged in SIB and more importantly why only a small percentage of laboratory monkeys, with seemingly similar housing and background, developed this disorder. Of particular importance was the recognition that different pathways might lead to SIB and that strong individual differences would affect the manifestation of this disorder and the response to treatment. We developed a comprehensive plan to identify effective treatment and prevention strategies. We started with characterizing the disorder in terms of prevalence and types of environments in which it was found. We then conducted observations on a cohort of SIB and control monkeys to identify conditions associated with SIB (e.g., disordered sleep) as well as clinical disease states and congenital defects that could be precipitating factors. We examined the environmental events that triggered episodes of SIB in monkeys with the disorder and evaluated three models that might explain the reinforcement contingencies associated with SIB, including tension reduction, self-stimulation, and social communication. Possible treatments for SIB such as environmental enrichment, social housing, and pharmacotherapy were tested by our group and others. To date, no single treatment has been found to abolish SIB, and each of these treatments is impacted by individual differences. To develop possible prevention strategies, we examined colony management and health records to find risk factors for SIB. These risk factors generalized to other facilities, and considerable effort was expended by all behavioral managers at these facilities to reduce early life stress exposure, to minimize the length of individual cage housing by emphasizing pair housing, and to reduce the possible stressfulness of various veterinary/medical procedures by implementing positive reinforcement training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Novak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.,New England Regional Primate Research Center, Harvard Medical School, Southborough, Massachusetts, USA
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22
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Li Z, Li Z, Lv X, Li Z, Xiong L, Hu X, Qin D. Intracerebroventricular Administration of Interferon-Alpha Induced Depressive-Like Behaviors and Neurotransmitter Changes in Rhesus Monkeys. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:585604. [PMID: 33328856 PMCID: PMC7710898 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.585604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-alpha (IFN-α) is a cytokine widely used in the treatment of brain cancers and virus infections with side effects including causing depression. Monoamine neurotransmitter systems have been found playing important roles in peripheral IFN-α-induced depression, but how peripheral IFN-α accesses the central nervous system and contributes to the development of depression is poorly known. This study aimed to develop a non-human primate model using long-term intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of IFN-α (5 days/week for 6 weeks), to observe the induced depressive-like behaviors and to explore the contributions of monoamine neurotransmitter systems in the development of depression. In monkeys receiving i.c.v. IFN-α administration, anhedonia was observed as decreases of sucrose consumption, along with depressive-like symptoms including increased huddling behavior, decreases of spontaneous and reactive locomotion in home cage, as well as reduced exploration and increased motionless in the open field. Chronic central IFN-α infusion significantly increased the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), but not 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA). These CSF monoamine metabolites showed associations with some specific depression-related behaviors. In conclusion, central IFN-α administration induced anhedonia and depression-related behaviors comparable to the results with peripheral administration, and the development of depression was associated with the dysfunction of monoamine neurotransmitters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhaoxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xiaoman Lv
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Zhaofu Li
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Lei Xiong
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Xintian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,National Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Center, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Dongdong Qin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
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23
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Kummrow M. Diagnostic and Therapeutic Guidelines to Abnormal Behavior in Captive Nonhuman Primates. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract 2020; 24:253-266. [PMID: 33189254 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvex.2020.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal behavior in nonhuman primates is oftentimes prematurely blamed on certain conditions, in the case of captive non-human primates, readily so on their husbandry, largely ignoring the underlying pathophysiological processes in the brain. Each life history shapes an individual's predisposition to develop or resist the development of a psychopathological disorder, which manifests itself in abnormal behavior when triggered by certain situations or conditions. In order to sustainably address the symptoms of psychopathologies, therapeutic approaches must be based on a structured, comprehensive diagnostic procedure, including behavioral and functional analyses, research into life history, and personality assessment..
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Kummrow
- Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich 8057, Switzerland.
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24
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Personality traits modulate stress responses after enclosure change of captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus). Appl Anim Behav Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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25
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Banse HE, Getachew F, Levy M, Smits J. Influence of season and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction on hair cortisol concentration in horses. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2020; 72:106375. [PMID: 31431311 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2019.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Hair cortisol has been demonstrated to reflect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (including Cushing's disease and stress) in several species. We hypothesized that hair cortisol concentrations are increased in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) compared with healthy adult horses and that this difference is magnified in the fall, when circulating adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) is generally the highest. Cortisol from hair collected using clippers with a #40 blade from the neck was compared between PPID horses and control horses over several months in the fall (August-December) and 1 mo in spring (May). Cortisol from hair at several sampling sites (neck, jugular furrow, sternum, and submandibular) were compared between PPID (n = 6) and control (n = 8) horses in May. Relationships between hair cortisol and ACTH were assessed in the fall. Hair cortisol when measured by weight was higher in PPID vs control horses in October and November (P ≤ 0.01) but not December (P = 0.15), May (P > 0.7), or August-September (P = 0.18). When normalized for hair length, hair cortisol was higher in PPID vs control horses in November (P = 0.0006), but not October or December (P ≥ 0.06). Hair cortisol concentrations did not differ between PPID and control horses from any collection site in May (P > 0.7). There were no consistent relationships between ACTH and hair cortisol concentrations in October, November, or December (P ≥ 0.05). These findings suggest that PPID horses have increased hair cortisol accumulation in the fall compared with control horses. Additional work is needed to clarify whether assessing cortisol per weight or per hair length is most relevant in the horse.
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Affiliation(s)
- H E Banse
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA.
| | - F Getachew
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z1, Canada
| | - M Levy
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z1, Canada
| | - J Smits
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z1, Canada
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Ruhde AA, Baker KC, Russell-Lodrigue KE, Blanchard JL, Bohm RP. Trio housing of adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta): Methodology and outcome predictors. J Med Primatol 2020; 49:188-201. [PMID: 32285485 DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12469] [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: 10/13/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the feasibility of trio housing caged adult male rhesus macaques and attempted to identify outcome predictors for trio housing formation and its intermediary introduction steps. METHODS Subjects were familiarized consecutively to each potential group member via protected contact prior to introduction into the trio. Seven trios were attempted, involving 18 males, with three males attempted in two different trios. RESULTS One group was deemed successful, with a tenure of 51 days. Five were disbanded within minutes, and one was deemed unsuccessful the following morning. Two males sustained wounds requiring veterinary care over the course of the study. Outcome of the protected contact phase was predicted by age and temperament disparities as well as initial behavior. CONCLUSIONS While outcomes were poor, it suggests that attempts can be made relatively safely, and alternative introduction strategies should be explored to increase the feasibility of trio housing for adult males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison A Ruhde
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Kate C Baker
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Kasi E Russell-Lodrigue
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - James L Blanchard
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Rudolf P Bohm
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
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Gardela J, Carbajal A, Tallo-Parra O, Olvera-Maneu S, Álvarez-Rodríguez M, Jose-Cunilleras E, López-Béjar M. Temporary Relocation during Rest Periods: Relocation Stress and Other Factors Influence Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E642. [PMID: 32276388 PMCID: PMC7222751 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Horse transportation for temporary relocation during rest periods is a common and widespread practice among horse owners, either from sport competition or working tasks. This study aimed to determine the effect of a relocation period and the multiple factors associated with a rest period on hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) in horses. Additionally, this study reports the seasonal effect on HCCs and hair growth over a year. Thirteen police horses, Pure Spanish stallions of various ages (5-13 y), were selected to participate in this study. Hair sample collection was carried out approximately every 30 d for seven months (Study 1) and a year (Study 2). Cortisol determinations were performed by enzyme immunoassay. Interestingly, Study 1 revealed that relocated horses (n = 4) exhibited elevated HCCs compared with control horses (n = 4) after the relocation period (p < 0.05). Study 2 (n = 5) showed higher HCCs during summer compared with autumn and winter, and higher hair growth rates in winter compared with the other seasons (p < 0.05). Relocated horses had higher HCCs, suggesting a change in their welfare status, probably related to the sudden change in their surrounding conditions. However, these results should be interpreted cautiously due to the low sample size used. The nature of the relationship between HCCs and horse welfare needs to be further examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaume Gardela
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
| | - Annaïs Carbajal
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
| | - Oriol Tallo-Parra
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Sergi Olvera-Maneu
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
| | - Manuel Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Division of Children’s and Women Health (BKH), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Linköping University, Linköping, 58183 Östergötland, Sweden
| | - Eduard Jose-Cunilleras
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Manel López-Béjar
- Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Veterinary Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (J.G.); (A.C.); (S.O.-M.); (M.Á.-R.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 East Second Street, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
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Jasinska AJ, Pandrea I, He T, Benjamin C, Newton M, Lee JC, Freimer NB, Coppola G, Jentsch JD. Immunosuppressive effect and global dysregulation of blood transcriptome in response to psychosocial stress in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus). Sci Rep 2020; 10:3459. [PMID: 32103041 PMCID: PMC7044305 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59934-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychosocial stressors - life events that challenge social support and relationships - represent powerful risk factors for human disease; included amongst these events are relocation, isolation and displacement. To evaluate the impact of a controlled psychosocial stressor on physiology and underlying molecular pathways, we longitudinally studied the influence of a 28-day period of quarantine on biomarkers of immune signalling, microbial translocation, glycaemic health and blood transcriptome in the wild-born vervet monkey. This event caused a coordinated, mostly transient, reduction of circulating levels of nine immune signalling molecules. These were paralleled by a massive dysregulation of blood transcriptome, including genes implicated in chronic pathologies and immune functions. Immune and inflammatory functions were enriched among the genes downregulated in response to stress. An upregulation of genes involved in blood coagulation, platelet activation was characteristic of the rapid response to stress induction. Stress also decreased neutrophils and increased CD4 + T cell proportions in blood. This model of psychosocial stress, characterised by an immune dysregulation at the transcriptomic, molecular and cellular levels, creates opportunities to uncover the underlying mechanisms of stress-related diseases with an immune component, including cardiovascular diseases and susceptibility to infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J Jasinska
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, The University of California Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Ivona Pandrea
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tianyu He
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cassandra Benjamin
- St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, St. Kitts, West Indies, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Maurice Newton
- St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation, St. Kitts, West Indies, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | - Jen Chieh Lee
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, The University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nelson B Freimer
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, The University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, The University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Neurology, The University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - James D Jentsch
- Department of Psychology, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, 13902, USA
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29
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Sergiel A, Cattet M, Kapronczai L, Janz DM, Selva N, Bartoń KA, Swenson JE, Zedrosser A. Do follicles matter? Testing the effect of follicles on hair cortisol levels. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 8:coaa003. [PMID: 32025304 PMCID: PMC6994724 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol concentrations in hair are used increasingly as a biomarker of long-term stress in free-ranging wildlife. Cortisol is believed to be integrated into hair primarily during its active growth phase, typically occurring over weeks to months or longer periods, depending on latitude. Cortisol concentrations in hair thus reflect the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis over this time. However, local, independent cortisol secretion within the skin, which includes hair follicles, may also contribute to cortisol levels in growing hair. Methodological differences between studies include the measurement of cortisol in only the hair shaft (i.e. follicle absent, as with shaved hair) versus the whole hair (i.e. follicle present, as with plucked hair). If the concentration of cortisol in the follicle is high enough to influence the overall hair cortisol concentration (HCC), this could confound comparisons between studies using different types of hair samples (hair shafts vs. whole hair) and collection methods. Here, we test the hypothesis that cortisol present in follicles influences HCC. We compared HCC in paired subsamples of hair with and without follicles from 30 free-ranging Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos) and observed significantly greater HCC in samples with follicles present. The effect of follicles remained significant also with sex and age of sampled bears taken into account in a linear mixed model. Finally, we provide an overview of collection methods and types of hair samples used for HCC analysis in 77 studies dealing with stress in wild mammal species. Our findings highlight the need to unify methods of hair collection and preparation to allow for valid comparisons, and to optimize labour input in ecophysiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31120 Krakow, Poland
| | - Marc Cattet
- RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services, 415 Mount Allison Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7H 4A6, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, 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
| | - David M Janz
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B3, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31120 Krakow, Poland
| | - Kamil A Bartoń
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31120 Krakow, Poland
| | - Jon E Swenson
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Høgskoleveien 12, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Gullbringvegen 36, 3800 Bø, Norway
- Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
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30
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Shelton KA, Nehete BP, Chitta S, Williams LE, Schapiro SJ, Simmons J, Abee CR, Nehete PN. Effects of Transportation and Relocation on Immunologic Measures in Cynomolgus Macaques ( Macaca fascicularis). JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE : JAALAS 2019; 58:774-782. [PMID: 31604484 PMCID: PMC6926399 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-jaalas-19-000007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
NHP are a small, but critical, portion of the animals studied in research laboratories. Many NHP are imported or raised at one facility and subsequently moved to another facility for research purposes. To improve our understanding of the effects of transportation and relocation on the NHP immune system, to minimize potential confounds associated with relocation, and to maximize study validity, we examined the phenotype and function of PBMC in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) that were transported approximately 200 miles by road from one facility to another. We evaluated the phenotype of lymphocyte subsets through flow cytometry, mitogen-specific immune responses of PBMC in vitro, and plasma levels of circulating cytokines before transportation, at approximately 24 h after arrival (day 2), and after 30 d of acclimation. Analyses of blood samples revealed that the CD3+ and CD4+ T-cell counts increased significantly, whereas NK+, NKT, and CD14+ CD16+ nonclassical monocyte subsets were decreased significantly on day 2 after relocation compared with baseline. We also noted significantly increased immune cell function as indicated by mitogen-specific proliferative responses and by IFNγ levels on day 2 compared with baseline. After 30 d of acclimation, peripheral blood CD4+ T-cells and monocyte counts were higher than baseline, whereas B-cell numbers were lower. The mitogen-induced responses to LPS and IFNγ production after stimulation with pokeweed mitogen or phytohemagglutinin remained significantly different from baseline. In conclusion, the effects of transportation and relocation on immune parameters in cynomolgus monkeys are significant and do not fully return to baseline values even after 30 d of acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn A Shelton
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas
| | - Bharti P Nehete
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas;,
| | - Sriram Chitta
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas
| | - Lawrence E Williams
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas, Houston, Texas
| | - Steven J Schapiro
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas; Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joe Simmons
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas
| | - Christian R Abee
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas
| | - Pramod N Nehete
- Department of Comparative Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Bastrop, Texas; Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas, Houston, Texas
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31
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Baier F, Grandin T, Engle T, Edwards-Callaway L. Evaluation of Hair Characteristics and Animal Age on the Impact of Hair Cortisol Concentration in Feedlot Steers. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:323. [PMID: 31616679 PMCID: PMC6768966 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair cortisol is a novel biomarker of chronic stress. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of hair color and length, as well as, animal age on hair cortisol concentration in beef feedlot steers. Nineteen beef crossbred steers used for nutrition research and housed in a small feedlot setting were used for this study. Seven of the steers (680 ± 4.5 kg; ~9 years of age) were fitted with ruminal fistulas and duodenal cannulas. The other 12 steers (473 ± 3.1 kg; ~2.5 years of age) were fitted with only ruminal fistulas. Hair samples from each steer were collected throughout a period of 6 weeks from six different areas and analyzed for cortisol concentrations. One pre-determined area was shaved each week for 5 weeks (Weeks 1–5). During week 6, all five, previously shaved areas and an additional area was shaved to collect hair samples of various lengths. Hair length was recorded prior to the collection of each hair sample. Only data from the last week (Week 6) of collection were included in the analyses. Steers were categorized into one of three groups: old with black hair (OB, n = 3); old with white hair (OW, n = 3); young with black hair (YB, n = 12). Older steers exhibited greater hair cortisol concentrations than younger steers (P < 0.001). Hair cortisol concentration was not impacted by duration of growth (P = 0.33). Cortisol concentrations exhibited a weak, positive correlation with hair length (r = 0.33, P-value = 0.01). The average hair growth per week of beef steers in the winter months was calculated to be 0.90 mm. Further research should be performed to improve our understanding of the effect of hair characteristics, sampling methodologies and analysis techniques on hair cortisol concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faith Baier
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Temple Grandin
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Terry Engle
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Lily Edwards-Callaway
- Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Broche N, Takeshita RSC, Mouri K, Bercovitch FB, Huffman MA. Salivary alpha-amylase enzyme is a non-invasive biomarker of acute stress in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). Primates 2019; 60:547-558. [PMID: 31541328 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-019-00757-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) enzyme functions as a digestive enzyme in many species that consume starch in their diet. Human studies have also revealed that sAA enzyme activity levels are positively correlated with the release of the stress hormone norepinephrine, allowing sAA to act as a biomarker for sympathetic nervous system activity. Recent non-human primate studies have incorporated sAA as a physiological stress marker. However, no published reports have investigated the time course of sAA from a stressful event to return to baseline levels in non-human primates. Furthermore, no validation of sAA as a stress biomarker has been reported for Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata). This study had two primary aims: (1) to develop a systematic method for non-invasive saliva collection and, (2) to investigate sAA as a biomarker of acute stress in M. fuscata in order to better understand its acute stress-related characteristics. We developed a non-invasive method for cooperative saliva collection using positive reinforcement training (PRT) and tracked individual progress over 595 trials in ten individually housed Japanese macaques. We detected sAA enzyme in M. fuscata via kinetic reaction assay, then performed 22 acute stress tests. Four tests met conditions for interpreting sAA in response to an acute stressor and these results show that on average sAA activity rapidly increased post-stressor (mean ± SD = 4.2 ± 0.9 min) and returned to baseline shortly thereafter (10.4 ± 0.6 min). Our report reveals for the first time the temporal dynamics of sAA when applying acute stress to Japanese macaques and could be a useful tool for assessing animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Broche
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan.
| | - Rafaela S C Takeshita
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
- Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, Pará, Brazil
- Department of Anthropology, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Keiko Mouri
- Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | - Fred B Bercovitch
- Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Save The Giraffes, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Azevedo A, Bailey L, Bandeira V, Dehnhard M, Fonseca C, de Sousa L, Jewgenow K. Age, sex and storage time influence hair cortisol levels in a wild mammal population. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221124. [PMID: 31398221 PMCID: PMC6688795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The measurement of hair cortisol is increasingly used to understand the effect of natural and anthropogenic stressors on wild animals, but it is potentially confounded by individual, seasonal and sex-dependant variations in baseline cortisol secretion. This study validated an enzyme-linked immunoassay for hair cortisol measurement and characterized its baseline variation in a wild population of Egyptian mongoose. The analysis encompassed individuals of both sexes and all ages, across a range of geographic, environmental and seasonal conditions that the species experiences in Portugal allowing us to account for spatial, temporal and biological factors that contribute to hair cortisol variation. Our results showed that age, sex and storage time had an effect on hair cortisol, but season did not. Hair cortisol was higher in early stage juveniles compared to other age cohorts, in males when compared to females, and decreased with longer storage time. By identifying the factors that influence baseline hair cortisol in this wild population, we establish the basis for its application as an indicator of the effect of natural and anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Azevedo
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail:
| | - Liam Bailey
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Bandeira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Martin Dehnhard
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carlos Fonseca
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Katarina Jewgenow
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
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Fürtbauer I, Solman C, Fry A. Sheep wool cortisol as a retrospective measure of long-term HPA axis activity and its links to body mass. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2019; 68:39-46. [PMID: 30797176 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2018.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Hair cortisol analysis has been suggested as a powerful retrospective measure of long-term hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in numerous mammal species. In contrast, research evaluating the use of wool as a marker of long-term HPA axis activity is still scarce, and wool differs from hair in a number of ways. Here, we assess repeatability and differences in wool cortisol concentrations (WCCs) across (i) the wool shaft, (ii) two body locations, and (iii) time, in 33 barren Welsh mountain ewes (Ovis aries). We also (iv) investigated effects of grazing-related changes in body mass on WCCs and (v) assessed effects of the washing procedure during sample preparation on WCCs. Cortisol concentrations were repeatable but differed significantly across the wool shaft indicating that, provided wool growth rate is known, a single sample per individual could be used as a retrospective cortisol "timeline." WCCs were significantly higher in shoulder than in back samples, and no correlation between these two body locations was found, highlighting the importance of sampling from the same body location for repeated measures. An increase in body mass during grazing corresponded with a decrease in WCCs, which was significantly negatively correlated with body mass (and positively with age), suggesting that WCCs can be used as a marker of body condition and nutritional status in sheep. Interestingly, we found higher WCCs in washed compared with unwashed samples and discuss implications of this finding for future work. Overall, our study revealed significant within- and between-individual differences in WCCs and highlights a number of advantages but also methodological considerations of using WCCs as a retrospective measure of long-term HPA axis activity in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Fürtbauer
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK.
| | - C Solman
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK
| | - A Fry
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Swansea, UK
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35
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Crill C, Janz DM, Kusch JM, Santymire RM, Heyer GP, Shury TK, Lane JE. Investigation of the utility of feces and hair as non-invasive measures of glucocorticoids in wild black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2019; 275:15-24. [PMID: 30735671 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Non-invasive measures of glucocorticoid (GC) hormones and their metabolites, particularly in feces and hair, are gaining popularity as wildlife management tools, but species-specific validations of these tools remain rare. We report the results of a validation on black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus), a highly social engineer of the grasslands ecosystem that has experienced recent population declines. We captured adult female prairie dogs and brought them into temporary captivity to conduct an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test, assessing the relationship between plasma GC and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) levels following a single injection of a low (4 IU/kg) or high dose (12 IU/kg) of ACTH, compared to a single injection of saline. We also gave repeated injections of ACTH to adult females to assess whether this would result in an increase of hair cortisol concentrations, compared with control individuals repeatedly injected with saline. A single injection of ACTH at either low or high dose peaked plasma cortisol levels after 30 min, and thereafter the cortisol levels declined until 120 min, where they returned to pre-treatment levels comparable to those of the saline injected group. Despite the significant elevation of plasma cortisol in the treatment groups following ACTH injection, the elevation of FGM levels in the treatment groups were not significantly different from those in the control group over the following 12 h. Repeated injection of a high dose of ACTH failed to increase hair cortisol concentration in treatment animals. Instead, hair cortisol levels remained comparable to the pre-treatment mean, despite an increase in post-treatment hair cortisol levels seen in the saline-injected group. The magnitude of increase in the saline control group was comparable to natural seasonal variation seen in unmanipulated individuals. These results highlight that while measurement of GCs and their metabolites in feces and hair are potentially valuable conservation tools for black-tailed prairie dogs, further validation work is required before these matrices can be to real-world conservation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Crill
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
| | - David M Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
| | | | - Rachel M Santymire
- Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, Lincoln Park Zoo, United States
| | | | | | - Jeffrey E Lane
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
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Qin D, Li Z, Li Z, Wang L, Hu Z, Lü L, Wang Z, Liu Y, Yin Y, Li Z, Hu X. Chronic Glucocorticoid Exposure Induces Depression-Like Phenotype in Rhesus Macaque (Macaca Mulatta). Front Neurosci 2019; 13:188. [PMID: 30906247 PMCID: PMC6418031 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It has long been observed in humans that the occurrence of depressive symptoms is often accompanied by the dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The rodent experiments also showed that chronic corticosterone exposure could induce depression-like phenotype. However, rodents are phylogenetically distant from humans. In contrast, non-human primates bear stronger similarities with humans, suggesting research on primates would provide an important complement. For the first time, we investigated the effects of chronic glucocorticoid exposure on rhesus macaques. Seven male macaques were selected and randomized to glucocorticoid or vehicle groups, which were subjected to either prednisolone acetate or saline injections, respectively. The depression-like behaviors were assessed weekly, and the body weights, HPA axis reactivity, sucrose solution consumption and monoaminergic neurotransmitters were further compared between these two groups. The glucocorticoid group was not found to display more depression-like behaviors than the vehicle group until 7 weeks after treatment. Chronic glucocorticoid exposure significantly decreased the levels of cortisol determined from blood (a biomarker for acute HPA axis reactivity) but increased the hair cortisol concentrations (a reliable indicator of chronic HPA axis reactivity) compared with controls. The glucocorticoid group was also found to consume less sucrose solution than controls, a good manifestation of anhedonia. This could be possibly explained by lower dopamine (DA) levels in cerebrospinal fluid induced by chronic glucocorticoid treatment. The results presented here indicate that chronic glucocorticoid exposure could disturb both the acute and chronic HPA axis reactivity, which eventually disturbed the neurotransmitter system and led monkeys to display depression-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Qin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
- Department of Rehabilitation, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedicine Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhaoxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Limin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhengfei Hu
- Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Longbao Lü
- Kunming Primate Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Zhengbo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedicine Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Yun Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Kunming Children’s Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Yong Yin
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhaofu Li
- Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China
| | - Xintian Hu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Abstract
Although self-injurious behavior is a common comorbid behavior problem among individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, little is known about its etiology and underlying neurobiology. Interestingly, it shows up in various forms across patient groups with distinct genetic errors and diagnostic categories. This suggests that there may be shared neuropathology that confers vulnerability in these disparate groups. Convergent evidence from clinical pharmacotherapy, brain imaging studies, postmortem neurochemical analyses, and animal models indicates that dopaminergic insufficiency is a key contributing factor. This chapter provides an overview of studies in which animal models have been used to investigate the biochemical basis of self-injury and highlights the convergence in findings between these models and expression of self-injury in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darragh P Devine
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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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: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.2] [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.
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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.
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Koyama H, Tachibana Y, Takaura K, Takemoto S, Morii K, Wada S, Kaneko H, Kimura M, Toyoda A. Effects of housing conditions on behaviors and biochemical parameters in juvenile cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis). Exp Anim 2018; 68:195-211. [PMID: 30584201 PMCID: PMC6511518 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.18-0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the effects of environmental enrichment on laboratory monkeys, we studied
behavioral and physiological differences following changes in housing conditions. Ten male
and female juvenile cynomolgus monkeys were first housed in pairs for 8 weeks after
quarantine/acclimatization (singly housed) and subsequently housed alone for the next 8
weeks. Monkeys were subjected to evaluations of body weight gain, stereotypic or
affiliative behaviors, cortisol, 4-ethylphenyl sulfate (4EPS) and catecholamine
concentrations in biological samples, and blood chemistry tests under both housing
conditions. Under paired housing, the stereotypic behavioral score decreased in both
sexes, and the affiliative behavioral score increased in males and showed an increasing
trend in females. Under single housing, the stereotypic score increased in both sexes, and
the affiliative score decreased in males. Paired housing decreased serum calcium and urine
cortisol concentrations in both sexes and decreased plasma cortisol in males and plasma
4EPS concentrations in females. The stereotypic score was positively correlated with serum
calcium, plasma and urine cortisol, and plasma 4EPS concentration and negatively
correlated with the affiliative score. The feces painting score, affiliative score, and
plasma cortisol and serum calcium concentrations showed sex differences, suggesting
differences in responsiveness to environmental changes between males and females. In
conclusion, paired housing improved behavioral abnormalities in juvenile cynomolgus
monkeys, suggesting that it may be an effective environmental enrichment paradigm.
Calcium, cortisol, and 4EPS concentrations in biological samples may be useful indices for
evaluating the effects of environmental enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironari Koyama
- Laboratory Animal Science Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan.,United Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Yuki Tachibana
- Laboratory Animal Science Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - Kaoru Takaura
- Laboratory Animal Science Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - Shigetoshi Takemoto
- Laboratory Animal Science Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Morii
- Laboratory Animal Science Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - Sou Wada
- Laboratory Animal Science Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - Hayato Kaneko
- Screening Science and Technology Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - Mayuko Kimura
- Screening Science and Technology Division, Astellas Research Technologies Co., Ltd., 21 Miyukigaoka, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8585, Japan
| | - Atsushi Toyoda
- United Graduate School of Agriculture Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.,College of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, 3-21-1 Chuou, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki 300-0393, Japan
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Ramsey J, Martin EC, Purcell OM, Lee KM, MacLean AG. Self-injurious behaviours in rhesus macaques: Potential glial mechanisms. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2018; 62:1008-1017. [PMID: 30450801 PMCID: PMC6385863 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) can be classified as intentional, direct injuring of body tissue usually without suicidal intent. In its non-suicidal form it is commonly seen as a clinical sign of borderline personality disorder, autism, PTSD, depression, and anxiety affecting a wide range of ages and conditions. In rhesus macaques SIB is most commonly manifested through hair plucking, self-biting, self-hitting, and head banging. SIB in the form of self-biting is observed in approximately 5-15% of individually housed monkeys. Recently, glial cells are becoming recognised as key players in regulating behaviours. METHOD The goal of this study was to determine the role of glial activation, including astrocytes, in macaques that had displayed SIB. To this end, we performed immunohistochemistry and next generation sequence of brain tissues from rhesus macaques with SIB. RESULTS Our studies showed increased vimentin, but not nestin, expression on astrocytes of macaques displaying SIB. Initial RNA Seq analyses indicate activation of pathways involved in tissue remodelling, neuroinflammation and cAMP signalling. CONCLUSIONS Glia are most probably activated in primates with self-injury, and are therefore potential novel targets for therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Ramsey
- Tulane Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Elizabeth C. Martin
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Olivia M. Purcell
- Tulane Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Kim M. Lee
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433
- Tulane Program in Biomedical Science, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Andrew G. MacLean
- Tulane Program in Neuroscience, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA 70433
- Tulane Program in Biomedical Science, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA 70112
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, LA 70112
- Tulane Center for Aging, Tulane University New Orleans, LA 70112
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41
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Xu Y, Li J, Xie Q, Deng H. Hair cortisol levels and symptoms of anxiety and depression in Chinese adolescents: Comparison between incarcerated and community populations. Psych J 2018; 8:147-157. [DOI: 10.1002/pchj.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Youyun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Special Children's Impairment and InterventionNanjing Normal University of Special Education Nanjing China
| | - Jifeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
| | - Qiaozhen Xie
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
| | - Huihua Deng
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
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42
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Greff MJE, Levine JM, Abuzgaia AM, Elzagallaai AA, Rieder MJ, van Uum SHM. Hair cortisol analysis: An update on methodological considerations and clinical applications. Clin Biochem 2018; 63:1-9. [PMID: 30261181 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hair cortisol analysis is increasingly being appreciated and applied in both research and medicine, aiding endocrinologists with diagnosis. CONTENT We provide an overview of hair cortisol research in general and an update on methodological considerations including the incorporation of cortisol into hair, hair growth rates, and sampling procedures, mincing vs. grinding of samples during preparation for extraction, various extraction protocols, and quantification techniques. We compare the clinical utility and application of hair cortisol with traditional methods of measurement while acknowledging the limitations of analysis including variations in hair growth parameters. We explore the value of hair cortisol in cases of Cushing syndrome (particularly Cyclical Cushing), Adrenal insufficiency (including Addison's disease), therapy monitoring, cardiovascular disease, stress, and mental illness. SUMMARY Hair cortisol provides a unique objective biomarker for the analysis of endogenous cortisol levels for not only clinical diagnostic purposes but also in research. The use of hair cortisol has great potential for advancing patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J E Greff
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M Levine
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada
| | - Awatif M Abuzgaia
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada
| | - Abdelbaset A Elzagallaai
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada
| | - Michael J Rieder
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada
| | - Stan H M van Uum
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada.
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REVIEW: PSYCHOPATHOLOGIES IN CAPTIVE NONHUMAN PRIMATES AND APPROACHES TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. J Zoo Wildl Med 2018; 49:259-271. [PMID: 29900784 DOI: 10.1638/2017-0137.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the growing knowledge and literature on primate medicine, assessment and treatment of behavioral abnormalities in nonhuman primates (NHPs) is an underdeveloped field. There is ample evidence for similarity between humans and great apes, including basic neurologic physiology and emotional processes, and no substantial argument exists against a concept of continuity for abnormal conditions in NHPs that emerge in response to adverse experiences, akin to human psychopathology. NHPs have served as models for human psychopathologies for many decades, but the acquired knowledge has only hesitantly been applied to primates themselves. This review aims to raise awareness among the veterinary community of the wealth of literature on NHP psychopathologies in human medicine and anthropology literature and calls for the necessity to include mental health assessments and professionally structured treatment approaches in NHP medicine. Growing understanding about causes and pathogenesis of abnormal behavior in NHP will not only help to prevent the development of undesirable behaviors but also allow for treatment and management of long-lived, already affected animal patients.
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Guo Y, Tang X, Zhang J, Jin S, Li J, Ding L, Zhang K, Yang C, Zhou H, He X, Xu F, Bi GQ, Xu L, Lau PM. Corticosterone Signaling and a Lateral Habenula-Ventral Tegmental Area Circuit Modulate Compulsive Self-Injurious Behavior in a Rat Model. J Neurosci 2018; 38:5251-5266. [PMID: 29760181 PMCID: PMC6596003 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2540-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is commonly observed in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as in nonclinical populations with stress-related mental-health problems. However, the exact circuitry mechanisms underlying SIB have remained poorly understood. Here, with bilateral injection of muscimol into the entopeduncular nucleus (EP), we established a rat model of SIB. Following the muscimol injection, the male rats exhibited in a dose-dependent manner stereotypic self-biting behavior that lasted for hours and often resulted in wounds of various severities. The SIB was associated with an elevated level of serum corticosterone and could be exacerbated by enhancing the corticosterone signaling and, conversely, alleviated by inhibiting the corticosterone signaling. Activity mapping using c-fos immunostaining, combined with connectivity mapping using herpes simplex virus-based anterograde tracing from the EP and pseudorabies virus-based retrograde tracing from the masseter muscle, revealed the potential involvement of many brain areas in SIB. In particular, the lateral habenula (LHb) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the two connected brain areas involved in stress response and reward processing, showed a significant increase in neuronal activation during SIB. Furthermore, suppressing the LHb activity or modulating the GABAergic transmission in the VTA could significantly reduce the occurrence of SIB. These results demonstrate the importance of stress hormone signaling and the LHb-VTA circuit in modulating SIB resulting from EP malfunction, and suggest potential targets for therapeutic intervention of SIB and related disorders.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Self-injurious behavior (SIB) occurs in ∼4% of the general population, with substantially higher occurrence among adolescents and patients of neuropsychiatric disorders. Stress has been linked to the occurrence of SIB, yet the underlying mechanisms have remained unclear. Using a rat model of SIB induced by disruption of activity in the entopeduncular nucleus (EP), we found that the behavior is regulated by stress and linked to corticosterone signaling. Viral tracing and c-fos immunostaining revealed the involvement of various subcortical areas, especially the EP-lateral habenula (LHb)-ventral tegmental area (VTA) circuit, in SIB. Furthermore, regulating activity in the LHb or the VTA alleviates SIB. These results may have implications in the development of new strategies for treating SIB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Guo
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Xun Tang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Laboratory of Learning and Memory, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Jichuan Zhang
- Faculty of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Sen Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics and Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China, and
| | - Jinnan Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Laboratory of Learning and Memory, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Lufeng Ding
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Keming Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Chaoyu Yang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Hua Zhou
- Faculty of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Xiaobin He
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics and Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China, and
| | - Fuqiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics and Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China, and
| | - Guo-Qiang Bi
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms, Laboratory of Learning and Memory, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Pak-Ming Lau
- Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China,
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Pfefferle D, Plümer S, Burchardt L, Treue S, Gail A. Assessment of stress responses in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to daily routine procedures in system neuroscience based on salivary cortisol concentrations. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190190. [PMID: 29293564 PMCID: PMC5749769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-human primates participating in neurophysiological research are exposed to potentially stressful experimental procedures, such as dietary control protocols, surgical implants and their maintenance, or social separation during training and experimental session. Here, we investigated the effect of controlled access to fluid, surgical implants, implant-related cleaning of skin margins, and behavioral training sessions on salivary cortisol levels of adult male rhesus macaques participating in neurophysiological research. The animals were trained to chew flavored cotton swabs to non-invasively collect saliva samples. Our data show no differences in cortisol levels between animals with and without implants, but both, controlled access to fluid and cleaning of implants individually increased salivary cortisol concentrations, while both together did not further increase the concentration. Specifically, before cleaning, individuals with controlled access to fluid had 55% higher cortisol concentrations than individuals with free access to fluid. Under free access to fluid, cortisol concentrations were 27% higher after cleaning while no effect of cleaning was found for individuals under controlled fluid access. Training sessions under controlled access to fluid also did not affect salivary cortisol concentrations. The observed changes in cortisol concentrations represent mild stress responses, as they are only a fraction of the range of the regular circadian changes in cortisol levels in rhesus monkeys. They also indicate that combinations of procedures do not necessarily lead to cumulative stress responses. Our results indicate that salivary cortisol levels of rhesus monkeys respond to neurophysiological experimental procedures and, hence, may be used to assess further refinements of such experimental methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Pfefferle
- Welfare and Cognition Group, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz-ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, German Primate Center & University of Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sina Plümer
- Welfare and Cognition Group, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Leonore Burchardt
- Welfare and Cognition Group, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Treue
- Welfare and Cognition Group, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz-ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, German Primate Center & University of Göttingen, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Gail
- Welfare and Cognition Group, Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz-ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, German Primate Center & University of Göttingen, Germany
- Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany
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46
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Ash H, Smith TE, Knight S, Buchanan-Smith HM. Measuring physiological stress in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus): Validation of a salivary cortisol collection and assay technique. Physiol Behav 2017; 185:14-22. [PMID: 29248632 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cortisol levels are often used as a physiological measure of the stress response in captive primates, with non-invasive measures of this being an important step in welfare assessment. We report a method of collecting saliva samples voluntarily from unrestrained captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), and validate an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique previously unused in this species. Saliva samples were collected from marmosets housed in pairs in a UK laboratory. The assay showed parallelism, precision, accuracy and sensitivity, meeting the criteria typically used to investigate the effectiveness of new analytical techniques. Use of Salimetrics® Oral Swabs considerably increased the amount of cortisol recovered in comparison with previous studies using cotton buds. However, while use of banana on the swabs can encourage chewing, it may influence results. Although increases in cortisol levels have traditionally been interpreted as an indicator of stress in primates, there are many factors that affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, with some studies showing decreases in cortisol levels post-stressor. Following a likely stressful event (capture for weighing), we also found cortisol levels significantly decreased, possibly due to social buffering or 'blunting' of the HPA axis. Order of weighing also had an effect. The method therefore provided an effective non-invasive means of assessing acute changes in cortisol level that may be more useful than previous methods, improving our ability to study physiological aspects of welfare in primates. We discuss methodological considerations, as well as implications of using cortisol as a measure of stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Ash
- Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, Scottish Primate Research Group, Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK.
| | - Tessa E Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Chester, Parkgate Road, Chester, England, UK
| | - Simon Knight
- Biomedical Sciences, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK
| | - Hannah M Buchanan-Smith
- Behaviour and Evolution Research Group, Scottish Primate Research Group, Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Scotland, UK
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Drury SS, Howell BR, Jones C, Esteves K, Morin E, Schlesinger R, Meyer JS, Baker K, Sanchez MM. Shaping long-term primate development: Telomere length trajectory as an indicator of early maternal maltreatment and predictor of future physiologic regulation. Dev Psychopathol 2017; 29:1539-1551. [PMID: 29162166 PMCID: PMC5864972 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417001225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The molecular, neurobiological, and physical health impacts of child maltreatment are well established, yet mechanistic pathways remain inadequately defined. Telomere length (TL) decline is an emerging molecular indicator of stress exposure with definitive links to negative health outcomes in maltreated individuals. The multiple confounders endemic to human maltreatment research impede the identification of causal pathways. This study leverages a unique randomized, cross-foster, study design in a naturalistic translational nonhuman primate model of infant maltreatment. At birth, newborn macaques were randomly assigned to either a maltreating or a competent control mother, balancing for sex, biological mother parenting history, and social rank. Offspring TL was measured longitudinally across the first 6 months of life (infancy) from peripheral blood. Hair cortisol accumulation was also determined at 6, 12, and 18 months of age. TL decline was greater in animals randomized to maltreatment, but also interacted with biological mother group. Shorter TL at 6 months was associated with higher mean cortisol levels through 18 months (juvenile period) when controlling for relevant covariates. These results suggest that even under the equivalent social, nutritional, and environmental conditions feasible in naturalistic translational nonhuman primate models, early adverse caregiving results in lasting molecular scars that foreshadow elevated health risk and physiologic dysregulation.
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48
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Stanwicks LL, Hamel AF, Novak MA. Rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta) displaying self-injurious behavior show more sleep disruption than controls. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2017; 197:62-67. [PMID: 29276322 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a pathology observed in both humans and animals. In humans, SIB has been linked to various mental health conditions that are also associated with significant sleep disruption. In rhesus macaques, SIB consists of self-directed biting which can range from mild skin abrasions to wounds requiring veterinary care. However, only one study suggests possible sleep disruption in macaques with SIB. We evaluated sleep disruption using a noninvasive system (infra-red camera and a video surveillance program) which created videos for every movement over the nighttime hours. Nighttime activity was examined in 13 macaques (three females) of which six were classified as having SIB (one female). Each monkey was studied for a total of 6 nights spanning a period of 4 months. Measures included total movement time (TMT), time moving in the first hour (HR1), time moving in the last hour (HR11), and number of videos <10 secs, ≥10 secs, and ≥30 secs in length. Overall, SIB monkeys had higher TMT (p < 0.01), higher HR1 (p<0.001), and generated more videos ≥10 secs (p < 0.01) and ≥30 secs (p < 0.01). Thus, SIB monkeys showed significant sleep disruption. A four-fold difference between SIB and control monkeys in the ≥30 secs videos revealed many more significant awakenings in the SIB group. Overall higher nighttime activity, in the first hour but not in the last hour, is consistent with sleep-onset insomnia in humans. Whether increased nighttime activity contributes to the SIB condition during the day or, conversely, SIB causes higher nighttime activity remains undetermined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren L Stanwicks
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA. 01003
| | - Amanda F Hamel
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA. 01003
| | - Melinda A Novak
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Tobin Hall, 135 Hicks Way, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA. 01003
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Tulip J, Zimmermann JB, Farningham D, Jackson A. An automated system for positive reinforcement training of group-housed macaque monkeys at breeding and research facilities. J Neurosci Methods 2017; 285:6-18. [PMID: 28472677 PMCID: PMC5473526 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2017.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Behavioural training through positive reinforcement techniques is a well-recognised refinement to laboratory animal welfare. Behavioural neuroscience research requires subjects to be trained to perform repetitions of specific behaviours for food/fluid reward. Some animals fail to perform at a sufficient level, limiting the amount of data that can be collected and increasing the number of animals required for each study. NEW METHOD We have implemented automated positive reinforcement training systems (comprising a button press task with variable levels of difficulty using LED cues and a fluid reward) at the breeding facility and research facility, to compare performance across these different settings, to pre-screen animals for selection and refine training protocols. RESULTS Animals learned 1- and 4-choice button tasks within weeks of home enclosure training, with some inter-individual differences. High performance levels (∼200-300 trials per 60min session at ∼80% correct) were obtained without food or fluid restriction. Moreover, training quickly transferred to a laboratory version of the task. Animals that acquired the task at the breeding facility subsequently performed better both in early home enclosure sessions upon arrival at the research facility, and also in laboratory sessions. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Automated systems at the breeding facility may be used to pre-screen animals for suitability for behavioural neuroscience research. In combination with conventional training, both the breeding and research facility systems facilitate acquisition and transference of learning. CONCLUSIONS Automated systems have the potential to refine training protocols and minimise requirements for food/fluid control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Tulip
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | | | | | - Andrew Jackson
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK.
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50
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Stradaioli G, Peric T, Montillo M, Comin A, Corazzin M, Veronesi MC, Prandi A. Hair cortisol and testosterone concentrations and semen production of Bos taurus bulls. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2017.1303339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Stradaioli
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
- Center za biomedicinske znanosti in inženiring, University of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Marta Montillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Antonella Comin
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Mirco Corazzin
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Veronesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze veterinarie per la salute, la produzione animale e la sicurezza alimentare, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
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