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Béland K, Lair S, Guay M, Juette T, Bédard C, Black SR, Marcoux M, Watt CA, Hussey NE, Desmarchelier M. VALIDATION OF ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY TECHNIQUES TO MEASURE SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE (DHEA) AND DHEA-S IN NARWHALS ( MONODON MONOCEROS). J Zoo Wildl Med 2023; 54:119-130. [PMID: 36971636 DOI: 10.1638/2022-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Narwhals (Monodon monoceros) are increasingly exposed to anthropogenic disturbances that may increase their stress levels with unknown consequences for the overall population dynamics. The validation and measurement of chronic stress biomarkers could contribute toward improved understanding and conservation efforts for this species. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated metabolite DHEA-S are collectively referred to as DHEA(S). Serum DHEA(S) concentrations combined in ratios with cortisol [cortisol/DHEA(S)] have been shown to be promising indicators of chronic stress in humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. During field tagging in 2017 and 2018 in Baffin Bay, Nunavut, Canada, 14 wild narwhals were sampled at the beginning and end of the capture-tagging procedures. Serum DHEA(S) were measured with commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) developed for humans. A partial validation of the ELISA assays was performed by the determination of the intra-assay coefficient of variation, confirmation of the DHEA(S) dilutional linearity, and the calculation of the percentage of recovery. Mean values (nanograms per milliliter ± standard error of the mean) of narwhal serum cortisol, DHEA(S), and cortisol/DHEA(S) ratios, at the beginning and at the end of handling, respectively, are reported (cortisol = 30.74 ± 4.87 and 41.83 ± 4.83; DHEA = 1.01 ± 0.52 and 0.99 ± 0.50; DHEA-S = 8.72 ± 1.68 and 7.70 ± 1.02; cortisol/DHEA = 75.43 ± 24.35 and 84.41 ± 11.76, and cortisol/DHEA-S = 4.16 ± 1.07 and 6.14 ± 1.00). Serum cortisol and cortisol/DHEA-S were statistically higher at the end of the capture (P= 0.024 and P= 0.035, respectively). Moreover, serum cortisol at the end of handling was positively correlated to total body length (P = 0.042) and tended to be higher in males (P = 0.086). These assays proved easy to perform, rapid, and suitable for measuring serum DHEA(S) of narwhals and that calculated cortisol/DHEA(S) are potential biomarkers for chronic stress in narwhals and possibly other cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Béland
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Stéphane Lair
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Mario Guay
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Tristan Juette
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Christian Bédard
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - Sandra R Black
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Marianne Marcoux
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Cortney A Watt
- Freshwater Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Nigel E Hussey
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Marion Desmarchelier
- Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St. Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada,
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Fusi J, Veronesi MC, Prandi A, Meloni T, Faustini M, Peric T. Hair and Claw Dehydroepiandrosterone Concentrations in Newborn Puppies Spontaneously Dead within 30 Days of Age. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223162. [PMID: 36428389 PMCID: PMC9686924 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223162] [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: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Tea Meloni
- Free Practitioner, DVM, Ambulatorio Veterinario Dott.ssa Tea Meloni, Via Fabio Filzi 24/28, 25063 Gardone Val Trompia, Italy
| | - Massimo Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Tanja Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Hair Cortisol and DHEA-S in Foals and Mares as a Retrospective Picture of Feto-Maternal Relationship under Physiological and Pathological Conditions. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12101266. [PMID: 35625111 PMCID: PMC9138058 DOI: 10.3390/ani12101266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Equine fetal hair starts to grow at around 270 days of pregnancy, and hair collected at birth reflects hormones of the last third of pregnancy. The study aimed to evaluate cortisol (CORT) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) concentrations and their ratio in the trichological matrix of foals and mares in relation to their clinical parameters; the clinical condition of the neonate (study 1); the housing place at parturition (study 2). In study 1, 107 mare-foal pairs were divided into healthy (group H; n = 56) and sick (group S; n = 51) foals, whereas in study 2, group H was divided into hospital (n = 30) and breeding farm (n = 26) parturition. Steroids from hair were measured using a solid-phase microtiter radioimmunoassay. In study 1, hair CORT concentrations measured in foals did not differ between groups and did not appear to be influenced by clinical parameters. A correlation between foal and mare hair CORT concentrations (p = 0.019; r = 0.312, group H; p = 0.006; r = 0.349, group S) and between CORT and DHEA-S concentrations in foals (p = 0.018; r = 0.282, group H; p < 0.001; r = 0.44, group S) and mares (p = 0.006; r = 0.361, group H; p = 0.027; r = 0.271, group S) exists in both groups. Increased hair DHEA-S concentrations (p = 0.033) and decreased CORT/DHEA-S ratio (p < 0.001) appear to be potential biomarkers of chronic stress in the final third of pregnancy, as well as a potential sign of resilience and allostatic load in sick foals, and deserve further attention in the evaluation of prenatal hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity in the equine species. In study 2, hormone concentrations in the hair of mares hospitalized for attended parturition did not differ from those that were foaled at the breeding farm. This result could be related to a too brief period of hospitalization to cause significant changes in steroid deposition in the mare’s hair.
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Probo M, Peric T, Fusi J, Prandi A, Faustini M, Veronesi MC. Hair cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations in healthy beef calves from birth to 6 months of age. Theriogenology 2021; 175:89-94. [PMID: 34517287 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cortisol (C) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are recognized as the main fetal steroids, and they are likely to influence fetal development and have long-term effects on newborn hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) function. DHEA is often measured as its sulfates and expressed as DHEA-S. Hair analysis represents a promising methodological approach for the non-invasive measurement of steroids, allowing for a retrospective analysis of the total exposure to steroids over time, and avoiding the influence of acute events or circadian fluctuations. Hair cortisol and DHEA concentrations have been investigated in cows, but no studies have been performed on calves. The object of this study was to evaluate hair cortisol (HC) and hair DHEA-S (HDHEA-S) concentrations in beef calves from birth to six months of age. Hair samples of 12 beef calves (seven males, five females) were firstly collected at birth (T1) and then every three weeks up to six months of age (T2-T10), collecting only the re-grown hair. HC and HDHEA-S were analyzed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Calves sex, weight and APGAR score were registered immediately after birth. Statistical analysis revealed that both HC and HDHEA-S were influenced by sampling time (P < 0.001). HC concentrations were higher at T1 compared to all subsequent samplings (T2-T10, P < 0.01); HC concentrations were higher at T2 compared to T4-T10 (P < 0.01), while no further changes were detected from T3 onward. Higher HDHEA-S concentrations were registered at T1, T2 and T3 compared to all the other samplings (P < 0.01). No correlation was found between hair concentrations of both steroids and calf sex or birthweight. APGAR score was negatively correlated only with HC at birth (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that C and DHEA-S are quantifiable in the hair of calves and are influenced by their age. The higher HC detected at birth (T1) probably reflects the high serum C concentrations present late in pregnancy and increased by the fetal HPA axis, by which parturition is initiated in cows. The highest HDHEA-S at birth (T1) in calves indicates that the largest amounts of DHEA and its sulfates are produced during fetal development. Moreover, the findings of higher HC at three weeks after birth and of higher HDHEA-S until six weeks after birth, suggest that C and DHEA secretion continues also beyond birth, and that these steroids could be involved in the events occurring during the challenging first weeks of age in the calf.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Probo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - T Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - J Fusi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy.
| | - A Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Sondrio, 2/a, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - M Faustini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - M C Veronesi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900, Lodi, Italy
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Gabai G, Mongillo P, Giaretta E, Marinelli L. Do Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Its Sulfate (DHEAS) Play a Role in the Stress Response in Domestic Animals? Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:588835. [PMID: 33195624 PMCID: PMC7649144 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.588835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In animal husbandry, stress is often associated with poor health and welfare. Stress occurs when a physiological control system detects a state of real or presumptive threat to the animal's homeostasis or a failure to control a fitness-critical variable. The definition of stress has mostly relied on glucocorticoids measurement, even though glucocorticoids represent one stress-response system, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, which is not precise enough as it is also related to metabolic regulation and activated in non-stressful situations (pleasure, excitement, and arousal). The mammal adrenal can synthesize the androgenic steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate metabolite (DHEAS), which have been associated to the stress response in several studies performed mostly in humans and laboratory animals. Although the functions of these steroids are not fully understood, available data suggest their antagonistic effects on glucocorticoids and, in humans, their secretion is affected by stress. This review explores the scientific literature on DHEA and DHEAS release in domestic animals in response to stressors of different nature (inflammatory, physical, or social) and duration, and the extra-adrenal contribution to circulating DHEA. Then, the potential use of DHEA in conjunction with cortisol to improve the definition of the stress phenotype in farmed animals is discussed. Although the focus of this review is on farmed animals, examples from other species are reported when available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Gabai
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Paolo Mongillo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Elisa Giaretta
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Lieta Marinelli
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
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Falomo M, Del Re B, Rossi M, Giaretta E, Da Dalt L, Gabai G. Relationship between postpartum uterine involution and biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in clinically healthy mares ( Equus caballus). Heliyon 2020; 6:e03691. [PMID: 32258514 PMCID: PMC7125350 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To test the hypothesis that delayed/impaired uterine involution could be associated with oxinflammation, we studied the progression of the uterine involution in association with some biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in clinically healthy mares (N = 26) during early postpartum. The examination of the reproductive tract was performed on Days 7 and 21 after foaling. Uterine involution was assessed considering: a) the increase of the gravid uterine horn diameter (GUHD) compared with diameter recorded before pregnancy during the previous breeding season; b) the level of endometrial edema (EE); c) the degree of accumulation of intrauterine fluid (IUFA); d) the status of the cervix (CS). Inflammation and oxidative stress were studied by measuring serum amyloid A (SAA), cortisol, DHEA, AOPP, protein carbonyl groups, malondialdheyde (MDA) and thiols in plasma on Days 7 and 21. By Day 21 after parturition, a significant improvement (P < 0.01) was observed for GUHD and EE; while IUFA increased in six animals. Plasma SAA and DHEA concentrations were higher when the clinical parameters indicated a lower degree of uterine involution. On Day 7, the cortisol/DHEA ratio was lower in animals with higher degree of EE. Plasma AOPP and MDA concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in animals with the lower GUHD. On Day 21, plasma MDA concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in animals with the lower IUFA. Our data suggest that a mild condition of inflammation and oxidative stress occur in mares with delayed/impaired uterine involution.
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Affiliation(s)
- M.E. Falomo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
| | - B. Del Re
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
| | - M. Rossi
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
| | - E. Giaretta
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
| | - L. Da Dalt
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
| | - G. Gabai
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Agripolis 35020 Legnaro (PD) Italy
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Abstract
Increased animal productivity has reduced animal fitness, resulting in increased susceptibility to infectious and metabolic diseases, locomotion problems and subfertility. Future animal breeding strategies should focus on balancing high production levels with health status monitoring and improved welfare. Additionally, understanding how animals interact with their internal and external environment is essential for improving health, fitness, and welfare. In this context, the continuous validation of existing biomarkers and the discovery and field implementation of new biomarkers will enable us to understand the specific physiological process and regulatory mechanisms used by the organism to adapt to different environmental conditions. Thus, biomarkers may be used to monitor welfare and improve management and breeding strategies. In this article, we describe major achievements in the establishment of biomarkers in dairy cows and small ruminants. This review mainly focuses on the physiological biomarkers used to monitor animal responses to, and recovery from, environmental perturbations. We highlight future avenues for research in this field and present a timely positioning document to the scientific community.
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Influence of transrectal palpation training on cortisol levels and heart rate variability in cows. Theriogenology 2018; 119:238-244. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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