Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cortisol and Immune Measures in Boars Exposed to Three-day Administration of Exogenous Adrenocorticotropic Hormone

  • Published:
Veterinary Research Communications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adrenal stimulation by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on blood cortisol concentration and on circulating total and differential leukocyte counts during and in the 16 days after ACTH administration. Swedish Landrace boars aged approximately 6–7 months were used. ACTH-treated animals (n = 7) were given ACTH intravenously at 10 μg/kg body mass for 3 days. A control group of animals (n = 7) received 1 ml of sterile 0.9% saline intramuscularly. ACTH induced a highly significant increase (p>0.0001) in serum cortisol in treated boars. On the day after the last ACTH dose, the cortisol concentration was significantly higher, but the level of significance was lower than during ACTH administration (p>0.05). During ACTH treatment, a significant increase was recorded in total leukocyte count and neutrophil percentage (p>0.05 to p>0.0001), along with the increase in blood cortisol concentration, whereas percentage lymphocyte count showed a significant decrease. Lymphopenia disappeared upon cessation of treatment, but neutropenia developed in the week after treatment. On all three days of ACTH challenge, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly increased. An increase in eosinophil percentage was recorded on treatment days 1 and 2, whereas ACTH treatment had no effect on basophil percentage. In conclusion, three-day administration of ACTH to young boars during restraint caused effects similar to acute stress situations, as suggested by disappearance of the effects on immune function after the last drug dosage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ACTH:

adrenocorticotropic hormone

HPA:

hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis

NL:

neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio

WBC:

white blood cell count (total leukocyte count)

References

  • Becker, B.A., Nienaber, J.A., Christenson, R.K., Manak, R.C., DeShazer, J.A. and Hahn, G.L., 1985. Peripheral concentration of cortisol as an indicator of stress in the pig. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 46, 1034–1038

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, J.D., Malven, P.V., Singleton, W.L. and Weesner, G.D., 1999. Hormonal and behavioral correlates of emotional states in sexually trained boars. Journal of Animal Science, 77, 3339–3345

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown-Borg, H.M., Klemcke, H.G. and Blecha, F., 1993. Lymphocyte proliferative responses in neonatal pigs with high or low plasma cortisol concentration after stress induced by restraint. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 54, 2015–2020

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, N.A., Camp, T.H., Rowe, L.D., Stevens, D.G. and Hutcheson, D.P., 1988. Effects of transport on feeder calves. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 49, 178–183

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crary, B., Hauser, S.L., Borysenko, M., Kutz, I., Moban, C., Ault, K.A., Weiner, M.L. and Benson, M., 1983. Epinephrine-induced changes in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of humans. The Journal of Immunology, 131, 1178–1181

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dantzer, R. and Mormède, P., 1983. Stress in farm animals: a need for reevaluation. Journal of Animal Science, 57, 6–18

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Groot, J., Ruis, M.A.W., Scholten, J.W., Koolhaas, J.M. and Boersma, W.J.A., 2001. Long-term Effects of social stress on antiviral immunity in pigs. Physiology and Behavior, 73, 145–158

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deguchi, E. and Akuzawa, M., 1998. Effects of fighting after grouping on plasma cortisol concentration and lymphocyte blastogenesis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells induced by mitogens in piglets. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 60,149–153

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Jong, I.C., Ekkel, E.D., Van de Burgwal, J.A., Lambooij, E., Korte, S.M., Ruis, M.A.W., Koolhaas, J. M. and Blokhuis, H.J., 1998. Effects of strawbedding on physiological responses to stressors and behaviour in growing pigs. Physiology and Behavior, 64, 303–310

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhabhar, F.S., Miller, A.H., McEwen, B.S. and Spencer, R.L., 1996. Stress-induced changes in blood leukocyte distribution – role of adrenal steroid hormones. Journal of Immunology, 157, 1638–1644

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ekkel, E.D., van Doorn, C.E.A., Hessing, M.J.C. and Tielen, M.J.M., 1995. The specific-stress-free housing system has positive effects on productivity, health, and welfare of pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 73, 1544–1551

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grandin, T., 2003. Transferring results of behavioral research to industry to improve animal welfare on the farm, ranch and slaughter plant. Applied Animal Behavior Science, 81, 215–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffin, J.F.T., 1989. Stress and immunity: a unifying concept. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 20, 263–312

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haussmann, M.F., Caroll, J.A., Weesner, G.D., Daniels, M.J., Matteri, R.L. and Lay, D.C. Jr., 2000. Administration of ACTH to restrained, pregnant sows alters their pigs' hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Journal of Animal Science, 78, 2399–2411

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hessing, M.J.C., Scheepens, C.J.M., Schouten, W.G.P., Tielen, M.J.M. and Wiepkema, P.R., 1994. Social rank and disease susceptibility in pigs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 43, 373–387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks, T.A., McGlone, J.J., Whisnant, C.S., Kattesh, H.G. and Norman, R.L., 1998. Behavioral, endocrine, immune, and performance measures for pigs exposed to acute stress. Journal of Animal Science, 76, 474–483

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Janssens, C.J.J.G., Helmond, F.A. and Wiegant, V.M., 1994. Increased cortisol response to exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone in chronically stressed pigs: influence of housing conditions. Journal of Animal Science, 72, 1771–1777

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, K.H., Hansen, S.W. and Pedersen, L.J., 1996a. The effect of long-term stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical axis and role of the stressor. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section A Animal Science, 27, 40–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, K.H., Pedersen, L.J., Nielsen, E.K., Heller, K.E., Ladewig, J. and Jorgensen, E., 1996b. Intermittent stress in pigs: effect on behaviour, pituitary-adrenocortical axis, growth, and gastric ulceration. Physiology and Behavior, 59, 741–748

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, S., Weiss, J.M., Schleifer, S.J., Miller, N.E. and Stein, M., 1981. Suppression of immunity by stress: effect of a graded series of stressors on lymphocyte stimulation in the rat. Science, 213, 1397–1399

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khansari, D.N., Murgo, A.J. and Faith, R.E., 1990. Effects of stress on the immune system. Immunology Today, 11, 170–175

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klemcke, H.G., Nienaber, J.A. and Hahn, G.L., 1989. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol in pigs: Effects of time of day on basal and stressor-altered concentrations. Experimental Biology and Medicine, 190, 42–53

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kunzl, C. and Sachser, N., 2000. Behavioral and endocrinological changes during process of domestication in guinea pigs. Archves of Animal Breeding, 43, 153–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGlone, J.J., Salak, J.L., Lumpkin, E.A., Nicholson, R.I., Gibson, M. and Norman, R.L., 1993. Shipping stress and social status Effects on pig performance, plasma cortisol, natural killer cell activity, and leukocyte numbers. Journal of Animal Science, 1, 888–896

    Google Scholar 

  • Minton, J.E. and Blecha, F., 1991. Cell-mediated immune function in lambs chronically treated with dexamethasone. Journal of Animal Science, 69, 3225–3229

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow-Tesch, J.L., McGlone, J.J. and Salak-Johnson, J.L., 1994. Heat and social effects on pig immune measures. Journal of Animal Science, 72, 2599–2609

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munck, A., Guyre, P. and Holbrook, N., 1984. Physiological functions of glucocorticoids in stress and their relation to pharmacological actions. Endocrine Reviews, 5, 25–41

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mwanza, A.M., Madej, A., Kindahl, H., Lundeheim, N. and Einarsson, S., 2000. Plasma levels of cortisol, progesterone, oestradiol-17β and prostaglandin F2α metabolite after ACTH (Synacthen Depot®) administration in ovariectomized gilts. Journal of Veterinary Medicine A, 47,193–200

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Northrop, J.P., Crabtree, G.R. and Mattila, P.S., 1992. Negative regulation of interleukin-2 transcription by the glucocorticoid receptor. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 175, 1235–1245

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O'Connor, T.M., O'Halloran, D.J. and Shanahan, F., 2000. The stress response and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: from molecule to melancholia. Quarterly Journal of Medicine, 93, 323–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Perremans, S., Randall, J.M., Rombouts, G., Decuypere, E. and Geers, R., 2001. Effect of whole-body vibration in the vertical axis on cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in piglets. Journal of Animal Science, 79, 975–981

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Puppe, B., Tuchscherer, M. and Tuchscherer, A., 1997. The effect of housing conditions and social environment immediately after weaning on the agonistic behaviour, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and plasma glucose level in pigs. Livestock Production Science, 48, 157–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stull, C.L. and McDonough, S.P., 1994. Multidisciplinary approach to evaluating welfare of veal calves in commercial facilities. Journal of Animal Science, 72, 2518–2524

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stull, C.L., Kachulis, C.J., Farley, J.L. and Koenig, G.J., 1999. The effect of age and teat order on α1-acid glycoprotein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, cortisol, and average daily gain in commercial growing pigs. Journal of Animal Science, 77, 70–74

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tuchscherer, M., Puppe, B., Tuchscherer, A. and Kanitz, E., 1998. Effects of social status after mixing on immune, metabolic, and endocrine responses in pigs. Physiology and Behavior, 64, 353–360

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallgren, P., Wilen, I.L. and Fossum, C., 1994. Influence of experimentally induced endogenous production of cortisol on the immune capacity in swine. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 42, 301–316

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westermann, J. and Pabs, R., 1990. Lymphocyte subsets in the blood: a diagnostic window on the lymphoid system? Immunology Today, 11, 406–410

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, S.-H., Hennessey, D.P. and Cranwell, P.D., 1990. In vitro study of the function of adrenocortical cells from pigs of differing in vivo response to adrenocorticotropin. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 51, 1016–1020

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    N. Bilandžić, M. Žurić & M. Lojkić

  2. Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb

    B. Šimić

  3. Dubravica Swine Farm, Dubravica, Croatia

    D. Milić & I. Barač

Authors
  1. N. Bilandžić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Žurić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Lojkić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Šimić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. Milić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. I. Barač
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Bilandžić.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bilandžić, N., Žurić, M., Lojkić, M. et al. Cortisol and Immune Measures in Boars Exposed to Three-day Administration of Exogenous Adrenocorticotropic Hormone. Vet Res Commun 30, 433–444 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-006-3315-3

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-006-3315-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation