The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in sheep is attenuated during lactation in response to psychosocial and predator stress

Domestic Animal Endocrinology
C R Ralph, A J Tilbrook

Abstract

Activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by psychosocial stress is attenuated during lactation. We tested the hypothesis that lactating ewes will have attenuated HPA axis responses to isolation and restraint but will have greater responses to predator stress in the form of barking dogs. We imposed two 4 h stressors: psychosocial stress (isolation and restraint of ewes) and predator stress (barking dogs). Blood was collected intravenous every 10 min from nonlactating ewes (n = 6), lactating ewes with lambs present but not able to be suckled (n = 6), and lactating ewes with lambs present and able to be suckled (n = 6). Plasma cortisol and oxytocin were measured. For nonlactating ewes, cortisol increased (P < 0.01) in response to both stressors, and these increases were greater (P < 0.01) than that in the lactating animals. For lactating ewes with lambs present but unable to be suckled, cortisol increased (P < 0.05) in response to both stressors with a greater response to barking dogs (P < 0.05). For lactating ewes with lambs present and able to be suckled, cortisol increased (P < 0.01) in response to barking dogs only. Plasma oxytocin was greater (P < 0.01) in lactating ewes than in nonlactating ewes and did not...Continue Reading

References

Mar 1, 1970·Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology·E B ThomanS Levine
Jan 15, 1997·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·C S Carter, M Altemus
Nov 4, 2004·Clinical Endocrinology·Joey KayeStafford Lightman
Oct 30, 2007·Hormones and Behavior·Dario MaestripieriMelissa S Gerald
Nov 3, 2007·The Journal of Physiology·David A Slattery, Inga D Neumann
Jul 31, 2009·Biological Psychiatry·Simone G Shamay-TsooryYechiel Levkovitz
Mar 11, 2010·Stress : the International Journal on the Biology of Stress·Gunther MeinlschmidtMarkus Heinrichs
Jul 16, 2010·CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics·Cedric VieroGovindan Dayanithi
Nov 18, 2011·Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica·Kerstin Olsson, Eva Hydbring-Sandberg
Nov 20, 2013·Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology·Robert J Handa, Michael J Weiser
Jun 3, 2014·Neural Plasticity·Katharina Maria HillererLudwig Aigner

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 20, 2017·Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official Journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine·Chantal Lau
Dec 12, 2020·Physiology & Behavior·Juan Pablo DamiánElize van Lier
Aug 24, 2019·Hormones and Behavior·Gabriela M PinhoDaniel T Blumstein

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.