Effect of transport on rabbits welfare: serum corticosterone determination

INTRODUCTION and AIM INTRODUCTION and AIM Mammals may react to adverse situations with the activation of hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal axis, which promotes the synthesis of corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of transport (1vs3 hours) and lairage time (0vs5 hours) on serum corticosterone concentration in rabbits. MATERIALS and METHODS MATERIALS and METHODS 70 70 blood blood samples samples werewere collected collected beforebefore (basal(basal level) level) andand after after transport transport andand lairage lairage.. TheThe serum serum waswas analysed analysed using using a a commercial commercial kit kit for for mouse mouse and and rat rat based based on on RIA RIA competition competitioncommercial commercial kit kit for for mouse mouse and and rat rat based based on on RIA RIA competition competition method method validated validated forfor rabbitrabbit according according toto NCCLS NCCLS ((National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards Guidelines).. In In detail, detail, thethe kitkit waswas markedmarked using using II--125125 (MP (MP Biomedicals Biomedicals,, Diagnostic Diagnostic Division) Division).. TheThe method method hashas been been modified modified forfor rabbits, rabbits, with with aa serum serum pre pre--dilution dilution ofof 1 1::30 30.. The The stationary stationary phasephase (bound) (bound) waswas separated separated from from thethe mobile mobile phase phase by by centrifugation centrifugation andand aspiration aspiration.. TheThe analyses analyses werewere made made in in Id tifidouble double.. TheThe samples samples were were red red ((11 min min..)) using using aa cellcell gamma gamma counter counter with with NaI NaI(Ti)(Ti) detector detector. . Identifiers CAS number [50-22-6] PubChem 5753 MeSH Corticosterone Properties Molecular formula C21H30O4 Molar mass 346.461 Except where noted otherwise, RESULTS and DISCUSSION RESULTS and DISCUSSION The The results results showed showed aa highhigh individualindividual variability variability duedue more more to to animal animal handling handling andand environment environment thanthan transport transport andand lairage lairage. . data are given for standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) g g p p g g Corticosterone Corticosterone average average values values afterafter transport transport andand lairage lairage ( (vs vs basal basal level)level) were were:: 35 35..0 0 vs vs 39 39..11 ng ng/ml /ml inin shortshort transport transport without without lairage lairage (STWL) (STWL);; 40 40..5 5 vs vs 47 47..88 ng ng/ml /ml inin shortshort transport transport with with lairage lairage ((STwithL STwithL)) and and 44 44..3 3 vs vs 27 27..00 ng ng/ml /ml inin longlong transport transport without without lairagelairage (LTWL) (LTWL) and and 38 38..4 4 vs vs 46 46..00 ng ng/ml /ml inin longlong transport transport with with lairage lairage ((LTwithL LTwithL)). . These These results results confirmed confirmed thethe effect effect ofof environmental environmental conditions conditions as as stressors stressors andand thethe opportunity opportunity toto find find aa non non--invasive invasive method method to to measure measure stress stress inin animals animals.