Collecting baseline corticosterone samples in the field: is under 3 min good enough?

Romero, L. Michael; Reed, J. Michael

doi:10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.11.004

Cited by 878 publications

(561 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Here, fixed factors were: treatment, time, and also their interaction; other than family identity, we also included bird identity in the random structure since the majority of the birds were sampled at both 2 and 6 weeks. Although all baseline samples were taken within the recommended time of 3 min of entering the room (Romero & Reed 2005), bleed time positively correlated with corticosterone levels during the second exposure period and this covariate was included in the LME. In both LMEs, corticosterone levels were natural log-transformed to improve normality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Repeated exposure to stressful conditions can have beneficial effects on survival

Marasco

Boner

Heidinger

et al. 2015

Experimental Gerontology

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Repeated exposure to stressful circumstances is generally thought to be associated with increased pathology and reduced longevity. However, growing lines of evidence suggest that the effects of environmental stressors on survival and longevity depend on a multitude of factors and, under some circumstances, might be positive rather than negative. Here, using the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), we show that repeated exposure to stressful conditions (i.e. unpredictable food availability), which induced no changes in body mass, was associated with a decrease in mortality rate and an increase in the age of death. As expected, the treated birds responded to the unpredictable food supply by increasing baseline glucocorticoid stress hormone secretion and there were no signs of habituation of this hormonal response to the treatment across time. Importantly, and consistent with previous literature, the magnitude of hormone increase induced by the treatment was significant, but relatively mild, since the baseline glucocorticoid concentrations in the treated birds were substantially lower than the peak levels that occur during an acute stress response in this species. Taken together, these data demonstrate that protracted exposure to relatively mild stressful circumstances can have beneficial lifespan effects.Key-words. Chronic stress, unpredictable food availability, glucocorticoids, corticosterone, HPA axis, hormesis. IntroductionProtracted or repeated exposure to stressful stimuli, such as those experienced by individuals living in uncontrollable or highly unstable environments, can have wide ranging effects on animal physiology, but the extent to which these effects are adaptive is the subject of considerate debate (Broonstra 2013). In vertebrates, one of the main systems mediating responses to stressful environmental conditions is the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis), which regulates both basal production and transient surges of circulating glucocorticoid stress hormones. Transient increases in circulating glucocorticoids are a highly conserved component of the vertebrate stress response and play a key role in initiating an array of metabolic changes intended to mobilise energy, including hepatic gluconeogenesis and inhibition of glucose uptake by peripheral tissues . These changes are thought to be vital for promoting short-term survival (Wingfield et al. 1998;Sapolsky 2000). At the same time, dynamic changes in basal level of glucocorticoids, such as those occurring across differing seasons within the same year in a variety of free-living vertebrate species, are also thought to be critical for survival (Romero 2002). Over a longer time scale, however, the repeated activation of the HPA axis may lead to a dysregulation and dysfunction of the stress axis (Sapolsky 2000).The predominant view is that repeated stress exposure, and the consequent prolonged elevation of glucocorticoid levels, is harmful since it can induce a large variety of downstream negative effects, including impairment of brai...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Repeated exposure to stressful conditions can have beneficial effects on survival

Marasco

Boner

Heidinger

et al. 2015

Experimental Gerontology

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“…We only included samples for BL measurements that were collected within 4 min of the time of initial capture to minimize effects of handling time (Romero and Reed, 2005). Even within this time frame, CORT levels can be elevated and therefore we included an effect of handling time in all analyses of baseline CORT levels.…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even within this time frame, CORT levels can be elevated and therefore we included an effect of handling time in all analyses of baseline CORT levels. We corrected BL CORT level to a standard handling time of 1.5 min, the smallest handling time in our study, and below the time at which plasma CORT is expected to start significantly increasing in concentration after an initial stressor (Romero and Reed, 2005). In addition to the handling time effect, for all models we also included an effect for assay/year in all analyses (see Hormone assays).…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in baseline and stress-induced corticosterone and prolactin levels predicts parental effort by nesting mourning doves

Miller

Vleck

Otis

2009

Hormones and Behavior

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Endocrine systems have an important mechanistic role in structuring life-history trade-offs. During breeding, individual variation in prolactin (PRL) and corticosterone (CORT) levels affects behavioral and physiological processes that drive trade-offs between reproduction and self-maintenance. We examined patterns in baseline (BL) and stress induced (SI; level following a standard capture-restraint protocol) levels of PRL and CORT for breeding mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). We determined whether the relationship of adult condition and parental effort to hormone levels in wild birds was consistent with life-history predictions. Both BL PRL and BL CORT level in adults were positively related to nestling weight at early nestling ages, consistent with the prediction of a positive relationship of hormone levels to current parental effort of adults and associated increased energy demand. Results are consistent with the two hormones acting together at baseline levels to limit negative effects of CORT on reproduction while maintaining beneficial effects such as increased foraging for nestling feeding. Our data did not support predictions that SI responses would vary in response to nestling or adult condition. The magnitude of CORT response in the parents to our capture-restraint protocol was negatively correlated with subsequent parental effort. Average nestling weights for adults with the highest SI CORT response were on average 10-15% lighter than expected for their age in follow-up visits after the stress event. Our results demonstrated a relationship between individual hormone levels and within population variation in parental effort and suggested that hormonal control plays an important role in structuring reproductive decisions for mourning doves. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. Endocrine systems have an important mechanistic role in structuring life-history trade-offs. During breeding, individual variation in prolactin (PRL) and corticosterone (CORT) levels affects behavioral and physiological processes that drive trade-offs between reproduction and self-maintenance. We examined patterns in baseline (BL) and stress induced (SI; level following a standard capture-restraint protocol) levels of PRL and CORT for breeding mourning doves (Zenaida macroura). We determined whether the relationship of adult condition and parental effort to hormone levels in wild birds was consistent with life-history predictions. Both BL PRL and BL CORT level in adults were positively related to nestling weight at early nestling ages, consistent with the prediction of a positive relationship of hormone levels to current parental effort of adults and associated increased energy demand. Results are consistent with the two hormones acting together at baseline levels to limit negative effects of CORT on reproduction while maintaining beneficial effects such as increased foraging for nestli...

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“…Mice were anaesthetized with di-ethyl ether and a blood sample of about 250μl was taken from the retro-orbital sinus. Corticosterone levels are known to rise quickly in rodents that are trapped (Fletcher and Bonnstra 2006), which is why samples had to be taken within 3min to obtain basal levels (Romero and Reed 2005). Thus, traps were watched from a distance of 10m and as soon as a mouse entered a trap, it was removed, anaesthetized and a blood sample was taken.…”

Section: Blood Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent

Schradin

2008

Hormones and Behavior

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Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent Schradin, C Schradin, C (2008). Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent. Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent AbstractAnimals have to adjust their physiology to seasonal changes, in response to variation in food availability, social tactics and reproduction. I compared basal corticosterone and testosterone levels in free ranging striped mouse from a desert habitat, comparing between the sexes, breeding and philopatric non-breeding individuals, and between the breeding and the non-breeding season. I expected differences between breeders and non-breeders and between seasons with high and low food availability. Basal serum corticosterone was measured from 132 different individuals and serum testosterone from 176 different individuals of free living striped mice. Corticosterone and testosterone levels were independent of age, body weight and not influenced by carrying a transmitter. The levels of corticosterone and testosterone declined by approximately 50% from the breeding to the non-breeding season in breeding females as well as non-breeding males and females. In contrast, breeding males showed much lower corticosterone levels during the breeding season than all other classes, and were the only class that showed an increase of corticosterone from the breeding to the non-breeding season. As a result, breeding males had similar corticosterone levels as other social classes during the non-breeding season. During the breeding season, breeding males had much higher testosterone levels than other classes, which decreased significantly from the breeding to the non-breeding season. My results support the prediction that corticosterone decreases during periods of low food abundance. Variation in the pattern of hormonal secretion in striped mice might assist them to cope with seasonal changes in energy demand in a desert habitat. AbstractAnimals have to adjust their physiology to seasonal changes, in response to variation in food availability, social tactics and reproduction. I compared basal corticosterone and testosterone levels in free ranging striped mouse from a desert habitat, comparing between the sexes, breeding and philopatric non-breeding individuals, and between the breeding and the non-breeding season. I expected differences between breeders and nonbreeders and between seasons with high and low food availability. Basal serum corticosterone was measured from 132 different individuals and serum testosterone from 176 different individuals of free living striped mice. Corticosterone and testosterone levels were independent of age, body weight and not influenced by carrying a transmitter.The levels of corticosterone and testosterone declined by approximately 50% from the breeding to the non-breeding season in breeding females as well as n...

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Collecting baseline corticosterone samples in the field: is under 3 min good enough?

Cited by 878 publications

References 25 publications

Repeated exposure to stressful conditions can have beneficial effects on survival

Repeated exposure to stressful conditions can have beneficial effects on survival

Individual variation in baseline and stress-induced corticosterone and prolactin levels predicts parental effort by nesting mourning doves

Seasonal changes in testosterone and corticosterone levels in four social classes of a desert dwelling sociable rodent

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