Social and reproductive conditions modulate urinary cortisol excretion in black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhli)

Abstract

The links between psychosocial stress, social status, reproductive function, and urinary cortisol were assessed in social groups of black tuftedear marmosets (Callithrix kuhli). Urinary cortisol excretion was monitored in cases of intrafamily conflict ("sibling fights") and in daughters in four distinct social contexts: in the family group, while housed singly or in same-sex pairs, and while paired with a male pairmate. Cortisol excretion was elevated in participants in intra-family conflict on the day of and the day following the conflict, relative to concentrations a week prior to or following the conflict. Daughters in natal family groups had concentrations of cortisol that did not differ from reproductively active adult females. This finding held for daughters who were either anovulatory or undergoing ovulatory cycles while in the natal family group. Natal family members and male pairmates exerted buffering effects on levels of activity in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) in female C. kuhli. Placing females in solitary housing led to significantly increased cortisol excretion. In the 2 months subsequent to pairing with a male partner, excreted cortisol concentrations in females declined significantly. Daughters removed from their natal family group and housed with a sister did not exhibit increased cortisol levels. These data reveal that activity in the (HPA) axis in marmosets is sensitive to psychosocial stressors, and that urinary cortisol can provide a useful quantitative measure of HPA reactivity. As in other callitrichids, delayed breeding in daughters and reproductive anomalies in C. kuhli appear to be mediated by mechanisms other than elevated HPA activity. Am.

Behavioral and hormonal response of common marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, to two environmental conditions

“…In this sense, Smith and French (1997) evaluating the behavioral pattern of heterosexual pairmates in C. kuhli to social deprivation found that the presence of partners reduced the behavioral response of exposure to novelty (new cage). On the other hand, individuals housed alone in the new cage spent more time in close proximity to their pairmates when returned to their home cage.…”

“…The main glucocorticoid found in primates is cortisol, which is released during behavioral stress (Sapolsky 1993). Cortisol assays have been widely used to determine the effects of both acute (Smith and French 1997) and chronic stress on captive primates, including alterations in captive conditions (Johnson et al 1991;Crockett et al 2000;Cross et al 2004) and maternal separation or peer group formation (Terao et al 1995). Moreover, studies with non-human primates showed a relationship between elevated cortisol and social deprivation (Callicebos moloch: Mendoza and Mason 1989), reduction of physical space (Macaca mulatta: Hassler et al 1989) and exposure to novel environments (Saimiri sciureus: Mendonza 1991).…”

Non-invasive monitoring of endocrine status in laboratory primates: methods, guidelines and applications

“…Lerchl et al, 1991;Muller and Lipson, 2003;Smith and French, 1997). Therefore, time of urine collection is a variable that needs to be controlled for.…”

“…Concerning urinary measurements, quantification of urinary cortisol has been shown to provide a reliable method for monitoring stress hormone output in a variety of primate species (Crockett et al, 1993;Robbins and Czekala, 1997;Smith and French, 1997;Whitten et al, 1998b). Since native cortisol is, however, quantitatively of little importance, measurement of the more abundant 5β-reduced cortisol metabolites might at least in some species be more suitable (Bahr et al, 2000;Klinkova et al, 2008).…”

Social modulation of stress responses

“…Blunted HPA axis responses to a novel environment have also been reported in socially bonded female guinea pigs [53]. Furthermore, female black tufted-ear marmosets (Callithrix kuhli) that are removed from the natal family group and housed alone in a novel environment exhibit a significant increase in cortisol concentration unless housed with a familiar sibling upon separation from the rest of the family [54]. Socially isolated female squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) also have higher basal and stress-induced circulating cortisol concentrations than pair-housed monkeys [55].…”