Changes in behaviour, cortisol and lymphocyte types during isolation and group confinement of sheep

Immunology and Cell Biology
R Degabriele, L R Fell

Abstract

This experiment compared changes in complex behaviour patterns, adrenal corticosteroid secretion and the numbers of various types of lymphocytes in sheep that were subjected to the stress of confinement. Grazing Merino ewes (n=80 in five replicated experiments) were confined either in groups of four per pen or in total isolation from other sheep. The percentage of CD4+ lymphocytes increased while the percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes decreased over the experimental period. This result was more pronounced in isolated sheep than in grouped sheep. The increase in CD4:CD8 was greater for isolated sheep than for grouped sheep and greater for 2 week sheep than for 3 week sheep. The percentage of CD5+ cells also increased, less so in isolated than in grouped animals. Interpreting these changes as a recovery of immune competence following introduction of a stressor, it is apparent that isolation impaired immune system recovery more severely than group confinement. Physiological and behavioural adaptation over the period were characterized by a decline in the adrenocortical response, resumption of the normal pattern of flocking behaviour and a reduction in motor activity during the test. These findings add to the evidence pointing to the p...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 22, 2010·Research in Veterinary Science·Rosangela OdoreMartina Tarantola
May 13, 2009·Research in Veterinary Science·Margret TuchschererTorsten Viergutz
Jan 25, 2005·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·S McKenzie, E M Deane
Aug 18, 2004·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology·S McKenzieL Burnett
Aug 2, 2015·Experimental Neurology·Linnea LentzRobert S Raike
Dec 18, 2013·Annual Review of Food Science and Technology·Mingfei YaoDavid Julian McClements

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