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Plasma ß-endorphin and cortisol in sheep during isolation stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

S. Al-Gahtani
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology & Nutrition, University of Leeds ‟LS2 9JT
R.G. Rodway
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Physiology & Nutrition, University of Leeds ‟LS2 9JT
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Extract

Many stressful procedures have been shown to cause elevation of plasma ß-endorphin (ß-EP) and Cortisol in sheep. These include shearing and electroimmobilization (Jephcot, McMillen, Rushen, Hargreaves and Thorburn, 1986), routine surgical procedures (Shut, Fell, Connell, Bell, Wallace and Smith, 1987), hypoglycaemic stress (Owen, Smith, Green and Falconer, 1984) and procedures such as handling, transport and slaughter (Fordham, Lincoln, Ssewannyana and Rodway, 1989) as well as change of environment (Fordham, Al-Gahtani, Durotoye and Rodway, 1991). The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of a very reproducible and easily applied stress, namely Isolation from other animals, on plasma ß-EP and Cortisol and also to study the effect of suppression of hypothalamo-pitultary axis with dexaniethazone during isolation. Six ovarlectomlzed ewes (48±3kg) were housed in groups of two in separate pens without visual contact between pens. In each experiment one ewe of each pair was removed from the pen. The remaining ewe was therefore isolated both physically and visually from its partner and was blood sampled every 10 min via a jugular catheter.

Type
Animal welfare
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1991

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References

Jephcott, E.H., McMillen, I.C., Rushen, J., Hargreaves, A. & Thorburn, G.D. Effect of electroimmoblUzatlon on ovine plasma concentrations of ß-endorphin/ß-lipotrophln, Cortisol and prolactin. Research In Veterinary Science 41: 371377, 1986 Google Scholar
Shut, D.A., Fell, L.R., Connell, R., Bell, A.K., Wallace, C.A. & Smith, A.I. Stress-Induced changes in plasma concentrations of immunoreactive ß-endorphin and Cortisol in response to routine surgical procedures, 1987 Google Scholar
Owen, P.C., Smith, R., Green, D. & Falconer, L. Effect of hypoglycemic stress on plasma and cerebrospinal fluid immunoreactive ß-endorphin in conscious sheep. Neuroscience Letters 49: 16, 1984 Google Scholar
Fordham, D., Lincoln, G.A., Ssewannyana, E. & Rodway, R.G. Plasma ß-endorphin and Cortisol concentrations in lambs after handling, transport and slaughter. Animal Production 49: 103107, 1989 Google Scholar
Fordham, O.P., Al-Gahtan1, S., Durotoye, L.A. & Rodway, R.G. Changes in plasma Cortisol and ß-endorph in concentrations and behaviour in sheep subjected to a change of environment. 1991 In Press: Animal Production.CrossRefGoogle Scholar