Cortisol, DHEA, and sexual steroid concentrations in fattening pigsʼ hair

C. Bergamin (Author), A. Comin (Author), M. Corazzin (Author), Massimo Faustini (Author), Tanja Peric (Author), Annalisa Scollo (Author), Flaviana Gottardo (Author), M. Montillo (Author), A. Prandi (Author)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility and reliability of using hair as a matrix to determine the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and sexual steroid concentrations and the cortisol/DHEA ratio in fattening pigs. The results could be also used to plan future research to identify threshold values in order to set up strategies to control the allostatic load and increase the resilience of fattening pigs before slaughter. The study was conducted on 107 commercial crossbred rearing pigs. The hair samples were taken by shaving at the age of 36 weeks, and concentrations of the hormones were measured using a solid-phase microtiter radioimmunoassay. Females had significantly higher cortisol levels (p < 0.01), significantly lower DHEA concentrations (p < 0.05) and significantly higher cortisol/DHEA ratios (p < 0.01) than barrows. Progesterone was significantly higher in gilts than in barrows (p < 0.01). Testosterone and 17β-estradiol were significantly higher in barrows than in gilts (p < 0.05). If future research can produce threshold values for the different markers examined, the evaluation of animals under subclinical stress conditions will be possible.

Keywords

fattening pigs;hair;steroid hormones;allostatic load;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2019
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UNG - University of Nova Gorica
UDC:	636.1/.9
COBISS:	5404923
ISSN:	2076-2615
Views:	2949
Downloads:	0
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

URN:	URN:SI:UNG
Type (COBISS):	Not categorized
Pages:	str. 1-10
Volume:	ǂVol. ǂ9
Issue:	ǂno. ǂ6
Chronology:	2019
DOI:	10.3390/ani9060345
ID:	11157469