Study of progesterone and cortisol concentrations in the Italian Friesian claw

Peripubertal Testosterone, 17β-Estradiol and Progesterone Concentrations in Hair and Nails in Dobermann Dogs

Studies about puberty in dogs are few, probably because many factors are involved in the delicate process of puberty onset, leading to difficulties in the proper enrollment of subjects. Moreover, the use of blood for monitoring hormonal changes can be problematic, and not feasible for long-term studies. Hair and nails proved to be suitable matrices for the retrospective evaluation of hormones' long-term accumulation. This study was performed using hair and nails for the evaluation of testosterone (T), 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations to assess possible sexual steroid changes during the peripubertal period in dogs. The results, obtained on five males and five females, showed a significant increase in T in hair and nails of males immediately before puberty. In females, a significant increase in E2 at puberty and a marked increase in P4 after puberty was found in both biological specimens. Sex-related differences were detected only for T hair concentrations, but when the sex and sampling time were considered together, hair and nails T and nails P4 concentrations allowed us to discern between male and female dogs at specific sampling times. The results from this study showed that hair and nails are useful biological specimens for the retrospective evaluation of changes in T, E2 and P4 concentrations in peripubertal dogs.

Assessing chronic stress in wild mammals using claw-derived cortisol: a validation using European badgers (Meles meles)

Measuring stress experienced by wild mammals is increasingly important in the context of human-induced rapid environmental change and initiatives to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. Glucocorticoids (GC), such as cortisol, mediate responses by promoting physiological adjustments during environmental perturbations. Measuring cortisol is a popular technique; however, this often reveals only recent short-term stress such as that incurred by restraining the animal to sample blood, corrupting the veracity of this approach. Here we present a protocol using claw cortisol, compared with hair cortisol, as a long-term stress bio-indicator, which circumvents this constraint, where claw tissue archives the individual's GC concentration over preceding weeks. We then correlate our findings against detailed knowledge of European badger life history stressors. Based on a solid-phase extraction method, we assessed how claw cortisol concentrations related to season and badger sex, age and body-condition using a combination of generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) (n = 668 samples from 273 unique individuals) followed by finer scale mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM) (n = 152 re-captured individuals). Claw and hair cortisol assays achieved high accuracy, precision and repeatability, with similar sensitivity. The top GLMM model for claw cortisol included age, sex, season and the sex*season interaction. Overall, claw cortisol levels were significantly higher among males than females, but strongly influenced by season, where females had higher levels than males in autumn. The top fine scale MMRM model included sex, age and body condition, with claw cortisol significantly higher in males, older and thinner individuals. Hair cortisol was more variable than claw; nevertheless, there was a positive correlation after removing 34 outliers. We discuss strong support for these stress-related claw cortisol patterns from previous studies of badger biology. Given the potential of this technique, we conclude that it has broad application in conservation biology.

Hair and Claw Dehydroepiandrosterone Concentrations in Newborn Puppies Spontaneously Dead within 30 Days of Age

The latest intrauterine fetal developmental stage and the neonatal period represent the most challenging phases for mammalian offspring. Toward the term of pregnancy, during parturition, and after birth, the hypothalamic−pituitary−adrenal axis (HPA) is a key system regulating several physiologic processes, through the production of cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This study was aimed to assess DHEA concentrations in hair and claws of 126 spontaneously dead newborn puppies, classified as premature puppies (PRE-P), stillborn puppies (STILL-P) and puppies that died from the 1st to the 30th day of life (NEON-P). The possible influence of newborn sex, breed body size, and timing of death on DHEA concentrations in both matrices was evaluated. Claw DHEA concentrations were higher in the PRE-P group when compared to STILL-P and NEON-P puppies (p < 0.05), whilst no significant differences were found in hair for all the studied factors. The results confirm the hypothesis that higher amounts of DHEA are produced during the intrauterine life in dogs, also in puppies that will die soon after birth.

Methods for Pain Assessment in Calves and Their Use for the Evaluation of Pain during Different Procedures-A Review

The evaluation and assessment of the level of pain calves are experiencing is important, as the experience of pain (e.g., due to routine husbandry procedures) severely affects the welfare of calves. Studies about the recognition of pain in calves, and especially pain management during and after common procedures, such as castration, dehorning, and disbudding, have been published. This narrative review discusses and summarizes the existing literature about methods for pain assessment in calves. First, it deals with the definition of pain and the challenges associated with the recognition of pain in calves. Then it proceeds to outline the different options and methods for subjective and objective pain assessment in calves, as described in the literature. Research data show that there are several tools suitable for the assessment of pain in calves, at least for research purposes. Finally, it concludes that for research purposes, various variables for the assessment of pain in calves are used in combination. However, there is no variable which can be used solely for the exclusive assessment of pain in calves. Also, further research is needed to describe biomarkers or variables which are easily accessible in the field practice.

Quantification of progesterone in beef with marbling using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with stable isotope-labelled standards

Progesterone (P4) is contained naturally in animal tissue, and it is also used as a veterinary drug in cattle for treatment purposes. To assess the risk from P4 residues in beef derived from treated cattle, it is essential to quantify the P4 contained naturally in cattle tissue (endogenous P4). Therefore, we performed a method validation for the quantification of endogenous P4 (method quantification limit = 0.06 ng g^-1) by using isotope-labelled P4s, and investigated the P4 contents in Japanese beef (n= 112; 0.07 to 121 ng g^-1). The P4 contents in cattle muscle ranged from 0.07 to 54.3 ng g^-1 in males, and from 0.27 to 121 ng g^-1 in females. Our investigation also indicated that the developed method using both ¹³C- and deuterium-labelled P4 standards could be used to certify the recovery of P4 from cattle muscle containing various amounts of intramuscular fat, and enabled the determination of the P4 content in all Japanese beef samples that exceeded the method quantification limit.

Perinatal concentrations of 17β-estradiol and testosterone in the toe claws of female and male dogs from birth until 60 days of age

This study was conducted to assess concentrations of 17β-estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in toe claws of puppies collected at birth, at 30 and at 60 days of age, evaluating changes relating to age and effect of puppy sex, Apgar score, bodyweight at birth, "litter effect", litter size, and maternal age. Puppies (n = 89), 46 males and 43 females, with normal weight and without malformations, were assigned for the study. Within 12 h of birth tips of toe claws were clipped, and the re-growth tissue of the claws was collected at 30 and 60 days of age. Steroid quantifications occurred using a radioimmunoassay. The results indicated there were lesser concentrations (P < 0.001) of both hormones at 30 and 60 days of age than at birth and that concentrations were similar at 30-60 days of age. There were greater (P < 0.001) T concentrations in males than females, with there being an interaction between sex and sampling time (P < 0.01). The Apgar score was positively (P < 0.001) related to T concentrations in toe claws at birth. The bodyweight was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with T concentrations, with an interaction among puppy sex, bodyweight and sampling time (P < 0.05). Results of the present study confirmed the usefulness of toe claws as a matrix for study of hormonal changes in perinatology of dogs. Results of the study also indicate there are greater E2 and T concentrations at birth compared with 30 and 60 days of age that could be the result of these prenatal steroids affecting fetal development.

Validation of a novel method to create temporal records of hormone concentrations from the claws of ringed and bearded seals

Ringed (Pusa hispida) and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus) inhabit vast and often remote areas in the Arctic, making it difficult to obtain long-term physiological information concerning health and reproduction. These seals are experiencing climate-driven changes in their habitat that could result in physiological stress. Chronic physiological stress can lead to immunosuppression, decreased reproduction and decreased growth. Recently, keratin has become a popular matrix to measure steroid hormones, such as stress-related cortisol and reproduction-related progesterone. We developed and validated methods to extract cortisol and progesterone from the claws of adult female ringed (n = 20) and bearded (n = 3) seals using enzyme immunosorbent assays. As ringed and bearded seal claws grow, a pair of dark- and light-colored bands of keratin is deposited annually providing a guide for sampling. Two processing methods were evaluated, removal of claw material with a grinding bit or grinding followed by mechanical pulverization (102 paired samples from six claws, two each from three seals). Adding the mechanical pulverization step resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in hormone extraction. Progesterone from the proximal claw band was evaluated to biologically validate claw material as a measure of pregnancy in ringed seals (n = 14). Claws from pregnant seals had significantly higher claw progesterone concentrations than from non-pregnant seals. This suggests that the elevated progesterone associated with gestation was reflected in the claws, and that the most proximal claw band was indicative of pregnancy status at time of death. Thus, although the sample size was low and the collection dates unbalanced, this study demonstrates the potential to use claws to examine an extended time series (up to 12 yrs) of cortisol and progesterone concentrations in ringed and bearded seal claws.

Cortisol, DHEA, and Sexual Steroid Concentrations in Fattening Pigs' Hair

Simple Summary

The rearing of heavy pigs in Italy is an important part of the production of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) hams. Along with the standard quality characteristics, the quality of products with animal origin is also assessed by the level of animal welfare. Evaluation of hair steroid concentrations has been considered an effective approach to assess stress in mammals. The advantage of using hair for this process is that it provides an integrated measure of hormone concentrations over medium- and long-term periods, it can be simply and non-invasively collected, and it does not require any special expedient for storage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hair cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and sexual steroid concentrations in fattening pigs at 36 weeks of age before slaughtering through a non-invasive approach. Females had significantly higher cortisol levels, significantly lower concentrations of DHEA, and significantly higher cortisol/DHEA ratios than barrows. Progesterone was significantly higher in gilts than in barrows. Testosterone and 17β-estradiol were significantly higher in barrows than in gilts. These results will allow us to plan future research with the aim of identifying threshold values in order to set up strategies to control the allostatic load and to increase the resilience of fattening pigs.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility and reliability of using hair as a matrix to determine the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and sexual steroid concentrations and the cortisol/DHEA ratio in fattening pigs. The results could be also used to plan future research to identify threshold values in order to set up strategies to control the allostatic load and increase the resilience of fattening pigs before slaughter. The study was conducted on 107 commercial crossbred rearing pigs. The hair samples were taken by shaving at the age of 36 weeks, and concentrations of the hormones were measured using a solid-phase microtiter radioimmunoassay. Females had significantly higher cortisol levels (p < 0.01), significantly lower DHEA concentrations (p < 0.05) and significantly higher cortisol/DHEA ratios (p < 0.01) than barrows. Progesterone was significantly higher in gilts than in barrows (p < 0.01). Testosterone and 17β-estradiol were significantly higher in barrows than in gilts (p < 0.05). If future research can produce threshold values for the different markers examined, the evaluation of animals under subclinical stress conditions will be possible.

Coat and claws as new matrices for noninvasive long-term cortisol assessment in dogs from birth up to 30 days of age

The last stage of fetal development and the neonatal period represent the most critical phases for the mammals' offspring. In the dog, the knowledge about the final intrauterine fetal development and biology, as well as about the neonatal physiology, remains scarce. Hormonal changes occurring in the last intrauterine fetal phase and during the early neonatal age are still not completely clear, probably because of the invasiveness related to the collection of the more common biological matrix, represented by circulating blood. Toward term of pregnancy, during parturition, and after birth, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is a key system regulating several physiological processes, and its activity was previously investigated by blood analysis, considered an invasive procedure providing a single-point measurement. In respect to animal welfare, and for a more correct long-term retrospective investigation, noninvasive hormonal studies were performed firstly on the hair of humans and coat of animals and, more recently, in the nails of human beings. This study was aimed to assess cortisol (COR) in coat and claws of newborn puppies and to evaluate the possible influence of the newborn gender, breed body size, and age on coat and claws COR concentrations. The results obtained from 165 newborn puppies evidenced that coat and claws COR levels were highly correlated each other (P < 0.0001), although the COR accumulation in the two matrices was different in relation to the class of age. Moreover, the puppies age influenced both coat and claws COR concentrations (P < 0.05), with premature puppies showing higher values when compared to term born-dead puppies or puppies dead between 1 and 30 days of age. The present study reported that COR is quantifiable in coat and claws of newborn dogs. Moreover, both matrices appear as useful tools for new, noninvasive, long-term perinatal and neonatal researches also in canine species.