1. Cortisol, DHEA, and Sexual Steroid Concentrations in Fattening Pigs’ HairCristina Bergamin, Antonella Comin, Mirco Corazzin, Massimo Faustini, Tanja Peric, Annalisa Scollo, Flaviana Gottardo, M. Montillo, Alberto Prandi, 2019, original scientific article 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.
Keywords: fattening pigs, hair, steroid hormones, allostatic load
Published in RUNG: 12.06.2019; Views: 4373; Downloads: 0
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2. Hair dehydroepiandrosterone in newborn beef calves from birth up to 10 months of ageMonica Probo, Tanja Peric, Massimo Faustini, Alberto Prandi, Antonella Comin, 2018, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: Although steroidogenesis in maternal, placental and fetal compartments is interdependent, the maternal and fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes represent separate biological systems, with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) recognized as the main fetal steroid. Fetal steroids are likely to influence development and have long-term effects on HPA function. 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 (Schury et al. 2017, BMC Psychiatry 17:213). Hair coat DHEA (hcD) concentrations have been investigated in cows (Peric et al. 2017, Livestock Sci 202:39–43), but no studies
have been performed on newborn calves. Hair samples of 12 beef
calves (7 males, 5 females) were collected by shaving at calving (T0) and monthly up to 10 months of age (T1-T10), only on the re-growth area. Hair DHEA was analyzed by RIA2. Statistical analysis revealed that hcD concentrations in calves were influenced by age, with higher levels at T1 and T2 compared to the other samples (p < 0.05). HcD levels were not influenced by newborn gender, birth weight and Apgar score. These data demonstrate that DHEA is quantifiable in the hair coat of newborn calves, and that hcD levels are influenced by the age of calves. The higher accumulation of DHEA was detected from birth to 2 months of age, suggesting that DHEA continues to be secreted by the newborn calf also beyond birth and could be involved in the events occurring during the first months of age.
Keywords: hair, dehydroepiandrosterone, cattle, calf
Published in RUNG: 09.04.2019; Views: 3773; Downloads: 0
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3. Cortisol fetal fluids and newborn outcome in term pregnancy small-sized purebred dogs.Barbara Bolis, Tanja Peric, Alessandro Rota, Massimo Faustini, Maria Cristina Veronesi, 2016, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: In order to provide further information about canine perinatology, and because of the scarce
knowledge about fetal fluids composition in dogs, the present study was aimed to assess the cortisol
concentrations in fetal fluids collected from small-sized purebred newborn puppies born by elective
cesarean section, at term of pregnancy (Meloni et al, 2014). Furthermore we
assessed possible correlations of amniotic and allantoic cortisol concentrations and newborn outcome
at 24 hours of age and with the newborn gender. Fetal fluids cortisol concentrations were also
evaluated for correlation with maternal parity, litter-size, neonatal gender, birth weight and Apgar score
(Veronesi et al, 2009). The study, performed on 50 born alive, normal weighed puppies, without gross
physical malformation, showed that cortisol concentration was higher in allantoic than in amniotic fluid
(p<0.01), even if a strong positive correlation between the two fluids cortisol concentration was found
(p<0.0001; R=0.83). Interestingly, higher amniotic (p<0.05) cortisol concentrations were associated to
puppies not surviving at 24 hours after birth. Therefore it could be suggested that this parameter may
be useful for the recognition, at birth, of puppies needing special surveillance in the first day of age. In
relation to the other evaluated parameters, no correlations with amniotic or allantoic cortisol
concentrations were found. In conclusion, the present results showed that in small-sized purebred
puppies, born at term by elective caesarean section, the evaluation of amniotic cortisol concentration
seems useful for the detection of puppies that need special surveillance during the first 24 hours of age,
and should be coupled to the newborn evaluation by Apgar score.
Keywords: cortisol, fetal fluids, pregnancy, dog
Published in RUNG: 12.05.2017; Views: 4881; Downloads: 250
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4. The effect of temperature, rainfall, and light conditions on hair cortisol concentrations in newborn foalsTanja Peric, A. Comin, M. Corazzin, M. Montillo, A. Prandi, M. C. Veronesi, Massimo Faustini, Silvia Valentini, Marta Bustaffa, 2014, original scientific article Keywords: žrebeta, dlaka, kortizol, okoljski dejavniki
Published in RUNG: 16.06.2016; Views: 4916; Downloads: 38
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6. Do enviromental factors influence hair cortisol in foaling season?Tanja Peric, A. Comin, M. Montillo, A. Prandi, T. Meloni, Massimo Faustini, F Cairoli, 2012, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: dlaka, kortizol, žrebe
Published in RUNG: 16.06.2016; Views: 4520; Downloads: 25
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7. Individual hair cortisol as a tool for monitoring HPA activity in healthy dairy cowsTanja Peric, A. Comin, M. Montillo, A. Prandi, T. Meloni, V. Zufferli, Massimo Faustini, S Pantaleo, 2012, published scientific conference contribution Keywords: dlaka, kortizol, krave molznice
Published in RUNG: 16.06.2016; Views: 6057; Downloads: 22
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8. Plasma IGF-I concentrations in holstein-friesian heifers from birth to pubertyTanja Peric, A. Prandi, M. C. Veronesi, Massimo Faustini, M. Probo, I. De Amicis, 2014, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: plazma, rojstvo, puberteta, telice
Published in RUNG: 22.01.2015; Views: 5352; Downloads: 157
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