We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Hair Cortisol: A Biomarker of Chronic Stress in Animals and its Association with Reproduction.
- Authors
Gupta, Akanksha; Yadav, Usha; Bansal, Krishna N.; Bishnoi, Manju Bala; Bala, Renu; Verma, Nisha; Bhardwaj, Shivani; Kumar, Pradeep; Kumar, Dharmendra; Yadav, P. S.
- Abstract
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) has been used to assess the retrospective measurement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis over a long period of time. HCC reflects HPA axis activity over a long period (months to years) depending on hair growth rate and length of hair measured. HCC is being used as a chronic stress biomarker in order to check the well-being of domestic animals (cattle, horses, dogs, pigs), wild animals, captive animals, human trauma victims, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) as it provides an innovative approach to measure chronic HPA activity retrospectively over months without being affected by short term acute stressors and diurnal patterns. Stress is a significant factor affecting animal fertility. Activation of HPA axis further activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG) i.e., glucocorticoids are produced causing apoptosis of Leydig cells and decreased testosterone levels in males. In females, increased cortisol levels can suppress the tonic secretion of Leutinizing hormone (LH) which might hamper ovulation. Thus, hair cortisol analysis for assessing the HPA-HPG axis can be an important tool for animal welfare.
- Subjects
HYDROCORTISONE; BIOMARKERS; CHRONIC diseases; HYPOTHALAMIC-pituitary-adrenal axis; HAIR growth
- Publication
Animal Reproduction Update, 2023, Vol 3, Issue 2, p43
- ISSN
2583-326X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.48165/aru.2023.3.2.5