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Botia M, Escribano D, Tecles F, Martínez-Subiela S, Cerón JJ, López-Arjona M. Changes in cortisol, cortisone and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II activity in saliva during pregnancy and lactation in sows. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2024; 89:106875. [PMID: 39116532 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2024.106875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The activity of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II, which can be estimated by the combined measurement of cortisol and cortisone, is gaining importance as a marker for the assessment of stress in pigs. The aim of this study was to investigate the activity of this enzyme and the salivary concentrations of cortisol and cortisone in pigs during pregnancy, farrowing and lactation and to compare it with other stress-related biomarkers such as CgA, S100A12 and alpha-amylase. Salivary cortisol concentrations and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoenzyme type 2 activity decreased after farrowing, while cortisol concentrations increased. Enzyme activity did not show significant correlations with any of the other stress-related biomarkers measured in this study. Overall, the results of this report indicate a different regulation of 11β-HSD type II activity and of cortisol and cortisone during pregnancy and lactation, which should be considered when evaluating these analytes in saliva during these periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Botia
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - D Escribano
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; Department of Animal Production, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n, 30100.
| | - F Tecles
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - S Martínez-Subiela
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - J J Cerón
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence Campus Mare Nostrum, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - M López-Arjona
- Department of Animal and Food Science, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
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Babington S, Tilbrook AJ, Maloney SK, Fernandes JN, Crowley TM, Ding L, Fox AH, Zhang S, Kho EA, Cozzolino D, Mahony TJ, Blache D. Finding biomarkers of experience in animals. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2024; 15:28. [PMID: 38374201 PMCID: PMC10877933 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00989-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
At a time when there is a growing public interest in animal welfare, it is critical to have objective means to assess the way that an animal experiences a situation. Objectivity is critical to ensure appropriate animal welfare outcomes. Existing behavioural, physiological, and neurobiological indicators that are used to assess animal welfare can verify the absence of extremely negative outcomes. But welfare is more than an absence of negative outcomes and an appropriate indicator should reflect the full spectrum of experience of an animal, from negative to positive. In this review, we draw from the knowledge of human biomedical science to propose a list of candidate biological markers (biomarkers) that should reflect the experiential state of non-human animals. The proposed biomarkers can be classified on their main function as endocrine, oxidative stress, non-coding molecular, and thermobiological markers. We also discuss practical challenges that must be addressed before any of these biomarkers can become useful to assess the experience of an animal in real-life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Babington
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Alan J Tilbrook
- Centre for Animal Science, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
| | - Shane K Maloney
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Jill N Fernandes
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia
| | - Tamsyn M Crowley
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3217, Australia
- Poultry Hub Australia, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia
| | - Luoyang Ding
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Archa H Fox
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Song Zhang
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Elise A Kho
- Centre for Animal Science, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Cozzolino
- Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Timothy J Mahony
- Centre for Animal Science, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Dominique Blache
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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Manteuffel C, Spitschak M, Ludwig C, Wirthgen E. New Perspectives In The Objective Evaluation Of Animal Welfare, With Focus On The Domestic Pig. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2023; 26:518-529. [PMID: 34727795 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2021.1998774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Animal welfare can be viewed as the result of integrating repeated affective evaluations of success in coping with environmental challenges, i.e., subjective challenge adequacy. The present work summarizes why established physiological and behavioral welfare parameters are inadequate to assess challenge adequacy. Behavioral tests based on the mood-congruent judgment effect and physiologic parameters based on components of the somatotropic axis are proposed as an alternative. Here, the judgment bias measures an animal's subjective confidence to cope successfully with a challenge, which is in turn modulated by the animal's previous experience. The somatotropic axis incorporates the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and its binding proteins (IGFBP), which are involved in the regulation of metabolism and growth. First results indicate that in particular IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 react with higher latency and higher inertness to short-term stressful events than established physiological stress parameters. Before these indicators can be utilized for overall welfare assessment, further validation studies are necessary that provide more insights into how repeatable the measurements are under different conditions and which other factors may confound the measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Manteuffel
- Leibniz Institute of Farm Animal Biology, Institute of Behavioural Physiology, Ethology Unit, Dummerstorf, Germany
- Department of Mucosal Immunity, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Marion Spitschak
- Leibniz Institute of Farm Animal Biology, Institute of Genome Biology, Signal Transduction Unit, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Carolin Ludwig
- Leibniz Institute of Farm Animal Biology,Institute of Reproductive Biology, Reproductive Biochemistry Unit, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Elisa Wirthgen
- Leibniz Institute of Farm Animal Biology, Institute of Genome Biology, Signal Transduction Unit, Dummerstorf, Germany
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MiR-22-3p Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Differentiation of Skeletal Muscle Cells by Targeting IGFBP3 in Hu Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12010114. [PMID: 35011220 PMCID: PMC8749897 DOI: 10.3390/ani12010114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The growth and development of skeletal muscle require a series of regulatory factors. MiRNA is a non-coding RNA with a length of about 22 nt, which can inhibit the expression of mRNA and plays an important role in the growth and development of muscle cells. The role of miR-22-3p in C2C12 cells and porcine skeletal muscle has been reported, but it has not been verified in Hu sheep skeletal muscle. Through qPCR, CCK-8, EdU and cell cycle studies, we found that overexpression of miR-22-3p inhibited proliferation of skeletal muscle cells (p < 0.01). The results of qPCR and immunofluorescence showed that overexpression of miR-22-3p promoted differentiation of skeletal muscle cells (p < 0.01), while the results of inhibiting the expression of miR-22-3p were the opposite. These results suggested that miR-22-3p functions in growth and development of sheep skeletal muscle cells. Bioinformatic analysis with mirDIP, miRTargets, and RNAhybrid software suggested IGFBP3 was the target of miR-22-3p, which was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter system assay. IGFBP3 is highly expressed in sheep skeletal muscle cells. Overexpression of IGFBP3 was found to promote proliferation of skeletal muscle cells indicated by qPCR, CCK-8, EdU, and cell cycle studies (p < 0.01). The results of qPCR and immunofluorescence experiments proved that overexpression of IGFBP3 inhibited differentiation of skeletal muscle cells (p < 0.01), while the results of interfering IGFBP3 with siRNA were the opposite. These results indicate that miR-22-3p is involved in proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle cells by targeting IGFBP3.
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Silvano A, Seravalli V, Strambi N, Cecchi M, Tartarotti E, Parenti A, Di Tommaso M. Tryptophan metabolism and immune regulation in the human placenta. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 147:103361. [PMID: 34365162 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The placenta represents the maternal-fetal vascular interface. It is capable of supplying the bioenergetic needs of the developing conceptus. It is composed of different cell types that engage in highly varied functions, ranging from attachment, invasion and vascular remodeling to cell fusion, hormone production, and nutrient transport. A deep knowledge of the immunological mechanisms responsible for maintaining an active tolerance towards an allogeneic fetus and the anti-inflammatory properties of the placenta can be useful to clarify the pathogenesis of adverse events in pregnancy. While the systemic mechanisms of this immunological regulation in pregnancy have been well studied, the metabolic processes involved in the placental immune response are still poorly understood. The aim of this review is to summarize the most important information concerning the immune regulation in pregnancy, focusing on the role of tryptophan (Trp) catabolism performed by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) in the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Silvano
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Viola Seravalli
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Noemi Strambi
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marta Cecchi
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Tartarotti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Italy
| | - Astrid Parenti
- Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Italy.
| | - Mariarosaria Di Tommaso
- Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy; Department of Health Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology Section, University of Florence, Italy.
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Vágási CI, Tóth Z, Pénzes J, Pap PL, Ouyang JQ, Lendvai ÁZ. The Relationship between Hormones, Glucose, and Oxidative Damage Is Condition and Stress Dependent in a Free-Living Passerine Bird. Physiol Biochem Zool 2021; 93:466-476. [PMID: 33164671 PMCID: PMC7982133 DOI: 10.1086/711957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractPhysiological state is an emergent property of the interactions among physiological systems within an intricate network. Understanding the connections within this network is one of the goals in physiological ecology. Here, we studied the relationship between body condition, two neuroendocrine hormones (corticosterone and insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1]) as physiological regulators, and two physiological systems related to resource metabolism (glucose) and oxidative balance (malondialdehyde). We measured these traits under baseline and stress-induced conditions in free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We used path analysis to analyze different scenarios about the structure of the physiological network. Our data were most consistent with a model in which corticosterone was the major regulator under baseline conditions. This model shows that individuals in better condition have lower corticosterone levels; corticosterone and IGF-1 levels are positively associated; and oxidative damage is higher when levels of corticosterone, IGF-1, and glucose are elevated. After exposure to acute stress, these relationships were considerably reorganized. In response to acute stress, birds increased their corticosterone and glucose levels and decreased their IGF-1 levels. However, individuals in better condition increased their corticosterone levels more and better maintained their IGF-1 levels in response to acute stress. The acute stress-induced changes in corticosterone and IGF-1 levels were associated with an increase in glucose levels, which in turn was associated with a decrease in oxidative damage. We urge ecophysiologists to focus more on physiological networks, as the relationships between physiological traits are complex and dynamic during the organismal stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Csongor I. Vágási
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Tóth
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Janka Pénzes
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Péter L. Pap
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Ádám Z. Lendvai
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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Tóth Z, Ouyang JQ, Lendvai ÁZ. Exploring the mechanistic link between corticosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 in a wild passerine bird. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5936. [PMID: 30581657 PMCID: PMC6296332 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Physiological regulators of life history trade-offs need to be responsive to sudden changes of resource availability. When homeostasis is challenged by unpredictable stressors, vertebrates respond through a set of physiological reactions, which can promote organismal survival. Glucocorticoids have been traditionally recognized as one of the main regulators of the physiological stress response, but the role of an evolutionarily more conserved pathway, the hypothalamic-pituitary-somatotropic (HPS) axis producing insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) has received much less attention. Although IGF-1 is known to affect several life history traits, little is known about its role in the physiological stress response and it has never been studied directly in adult wild animals. Methods In this study, we combined field observations with a controlled experiment to investigate how circulating levels of IGF-1 change in response to stress and whether this change is due to concomitant change in glucocorticoids in a free-living songbird, the bearded reedling Panurus biarmicus. We used a standard capture-restraint protocol in field observation, in which we took first and second (stress induced: 15 minutes later) samples. In a follow-up experiment, we used a minimally invasive oral corticosterone manipulation. Results We showed that corticosterone levels significantly increased while IGF-1 levels significantly decreased during capture and handling stress. However, change in corticosterone levels were not related to change in IGF-1 levels. We found that experimentally elevated corticosterone levels did not affect IGF-1 levels. Discussion Our results are the first to highlight that circulating IGF-1 levels are responsive to stress independently from glucocorticoids and suggest that the HPS axis is an autonomous physiological pathway that may play an important role as regulator of life-history decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Tóth
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Jenny Q Ouyang
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, United States of America
| | - Ádám Z Lendvai
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.,Department of Geology, University of Babeş-Bolyai, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Wirthgen E, Goumon S, Kunze M, Walz C, Spitschak M, Tuchscherer A, Brown J, Höflich C, Faucitano L, Hoeflich A. Effects of Transport Duration and Environmental Conditions in Winter or Summer on the Concentrations of Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Proteins in the Plasma of Market-Weight Pigs. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:36. [PMID: 29487569 PMCID: PMC5816936 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In previous work using market-weight pigs, we had demonstrated that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) are regulated during shipment characterized by changing conditions of stress due to loading or unloading, transportation, lairage, and slaughter. In addition, we found in a previous study that IGFBP-2 concentrations were lower in pigs transported for longer periods of time. Therefore, we performed a more detailed study on the effects of transport duration and season on the plasma concentrations of IGFs and IGFBPs in adult pigs. For the study, exsanguination blood was collected from 240 market-weight barrows that were transported for 6, 12, or 18 h in January or July. IGF-I and -II were detected using commercial ELISAs whereas IGFBPs were quantified by quantitative Western ligand blotting. In addition, established markers of stress and metabolism were studied in the animals. The results show that plasma concentrations of IGFBP-3 were significantly reduced after 18 h of transport compared to shorter transport durations (6 and 12 h; p < 0.05). The concentrations of IGF-I in plasma were higher (p < 0.001) in pigs transported 12 h compared to shorter or longer durations. Season influenced plasma concentrations of IGFBP-3 and IGF-II (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively). Neither transport duration nor differential environmental conditions of winter or summer had an effect on glucocorticoids, albumin, triglycerides, or glucose concentrations (p > 0.05). However, low-density lipoprotein concentrations decreased after 18 h compared to 6 h of transport (p < 0.05), whereas high-density lipoprotein concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in pigs transported for 12 or 18 h compared to those transported for only 6 h. Our findings indicate differential regulation of IGF-compounds in response to longer transport duration or seasonal changes and support current evidence of IGFs and IGFBPs as innovative animal-based indicators of psycho-social or metabolic stress in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Wirthgen
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Sébastien Goumon
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czechia
| | - Martin Kunze
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Christina Walz
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Marion Spitschak
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Armin Tuchscherer
- Institute of Genetics and Biometry, Dummerstorf, Leibniz-Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
| | | | | | - Luigi Faucitano
- Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Luigi Faucitano, ; Andreas Hoeflich,
| | - Andreas Hoeflich
- Institute of Genome Biology, Leibniz-Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany
- *Correspondence: Luigi Faucitano, ; Andreas Hoeflich,
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