Validation of a Fecal Glucocorticoid Assay to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Meerkats Using Physiological and Biological Stimuli

Gonçalves, Inês Braga; Heistermann, Michael; Santema, Peter; Dantzer, Ben; Mausbach, Jelena; Ganswindt, André; Manser, Marta B.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0153161

Cited by 25 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 81 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…And it also agrees with the tendency of saliva CORT level in gestation women, which was increased across the gestation period [13]. This confirms that the variation curve of fecal steroid hormones concentration can stand for the changes of steroid hormone secretion especially for periodic investigation by the advantage of non-invasive sampling [14]. The data were expressed as mean ± SEM, N=6 In coincide with the high level of steroid hormones in later stage of pregnancy, the relative abundance of Burkholderiales and Selenomonadales at order level of Meishan pig's fecal bacterium had a significant increase.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

The Changes of Fecal Steroid Hormones and Bacterial Composition in Different Gestation Stages of Meishan Sows

Xue¹,

Jiang²,

Liu³

et al. 2017

J Nutr Food Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Currently, the importance of gut microbiota to the health of their host has been well discussed, yet the knowledge about the host hormonal effect on the gut microbiota is limited. In this study, a combination of the high-throughput 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing and the Mass Spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics techniques were used to investigate the stool microbial composition and microbial metabolites at different gestation day in Meishan sows. The results showed that, the stool steroid hormones including estradiol (E 2 ), progesterone (P 4 ) and cortisol (CORT) were increased at gestation day 90 (P<0.05), when compared to gestation day 30. In coincide with the changes of steroid hormones, the relative abundance of Burkholderiales and Selenomonadales of the stool microbiota at d90 of pregnancy was significantly increased than that of at d30 of pregnancy at the order level (P<0.05). However, no significant difference of the richness estimators (ACE and Chao), and the diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson) were found between the d30 and d90 of gestation. Further, the metabolomics profile revealed 13 metabolites changed greatly from the gestation day 30 to 90, including amino acid metabolic pathway, lipid and carbohydrate metabolic pathway (P<0.001). The results suggest that the interaction of the steroid hormones and the gut bacteria may account for the metabolic changes throughout the length of pregnancy.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

The Changes of Fecal Steroid Hormones and Bacterial Composition in Different Gestation Stages of Meishan Sows

Xue¹,

Jiang²,

Liu³

et al. 2017

J Nutr Food Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Forty-eight of these samples, mostly of unknown origin, were collected daily from four zoo groups in summer 2011, with a further 21 samples collected from the same groups the following winter. In addition, we collected 71 samples (40 in summer 2012; 31 in winter 2012) from known individuals in six social groups using a glitter-feeding technique described in [ 22 ]. Briefly, a small quantity of food taken from the animal's daily diet was coated in very fine embossing glitter.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Group size and visitor numbers predict faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in zoo meerkats

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Measures of physiological stress in zoo animals can give important insights into how they are affected by aspects of their captive environment. We analysed the factors influencing variation in glucocorticoid metabolites in faeces (fGCs) from zoo meerkats as a proxy for blood cortisol concentration, high levels of which are associated with a stress response. Levels of fGCs in captive meerkats declined with increasing group size. In the wild, very small groups of meerkats are at a higher risk of predation, while in larger groups, there is increased competition for resources. Indeed, group sizes in captivity resemble those seen in unstable coalitions in the wild, which may represent a stressful condition and predispose meerkats to chronic stress, even in the absence of natural predators. Individuals in large enclosures showed lower levels of stress, but meerkat density had no effect on the stress measures. In contrast with data from wild meerkats, neither sex, age nor dominance status predicted stress levels, which may reflect less food stress owing to more equal access to resources in captivity versus wild. The median number of visitors at the enclosure was positively correlated with fGC concentrations on the following day, with variation in the visitor numbers having the opposite effect. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that there is an optimum group size which minimizes physiological stress in meerkats, and that zoo meerkats at most risk of physiological stress are those kept in small groups and small enclosures and are exposed to consistently high numbers of visitors.

show abstract

“…We opportunistically collected faecal samples for fGCM analysis immediately after defecation and assigned them to identified individuals. The average time lag between a perceived stressor and its reflection in altered meerkat fGCM concentrations is about 24 h [49], and we therefore did not collect faecal samples within 2 days after collar deployment. We kept collected samples in insulated thermal bags filled with ice packs until the samples were frozen at 2808C within 3 h from collection.…”

Section: (D) Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost of dispersal in a social mammal: body mass loss and increased stress

et al. 2019

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Dispersal is a key process influencing the dynamics of socially and spatially structured populations. Dispersal success is determined by the state of individuals at emigration and the costs incurred after emigration. However, quantification of such costs is often difficult, due to logistical constraints of following wide-ranging individuals. We investigated the effects of dispersal on individual body mass and stress hormone levels in a cooperative breeder, the meerkat ( Suricata suricatta ). We measured body mass and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations from 95 dispersing females in 65 coalitions through the entire dispersal process. Females that successfully settled lost body mass, while females that did not settle but returned to their natal group after a short period of time did not. Furthermore, dispersing females had higher fGCM levels than resident females, and this was especially pronounced during the later stages of dispersal. By adding information on the transient stage of dispersal and by comparing dispersers that successfully settled to dispersers that returned to their natal group, we expand on previous studies focusing on the earlier stages of dispersal. We propose that body mass and stress hormone levels are good indicators to investigate dispersal costs, as these traits often play an important role in mediating the effects of the environment on other life-history events and individual fitness.

show abstract

Validation of a Fecal Glucocorticoid Assay to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Meerkats Using Physiological and Biological Stimuli

Cited by 25 publications

References 81 publications

The Changes of Fecal Steroid Hormones and Bacterial Composition in Different Gestation Stages of Meishan Sows

The Changes of Fecal Steroid Hormones and Bacterial Composition in Different Gestation Stages of Meishan Sows

Group size and visitor numbers predict faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in zoo meerkats

Cost of dispersal in a social mammal: body mass loss and increased stress

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About