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Journal of animal science2018; 96(1); 76-84; doi: 10.1093/jas/skx008

Free and bound cortisol in plasma and saliva during ACTH challenge in dairy cows and horses.

Abstract: Cortisol levels reflect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis activity. While most plasma cortisol is supposed to be bound to the soluble corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), only free cortisol (FC) actively regulates metabolic and immunological processes. We aimed to establish a multispecies suitable method to assess FC in cows and horses which in combination with total cortisol (TC) allows interpreting proportional changes of cortisol in saliva as well as in blood in response to a standardized HPA axis activation via ACTH. We further investigated if the ratios of cortisol fractions as obtained at basal levels in healthy horses (herbivorous and monogastric) and dairy cows (herbivorous and ruminant) change during HPA axis activation, and to which extent saliva cortisol (SC) is representative for alterations in plasma FC and adrenal cortex reactivity. However, it was not the objective of the present study to directly compare the two species. Dosages of ACTH applied in cows and horses were based on published data. Synthetic ACTH was intravenously administered to eight dairy cows (0.16 µg/kg BW) and five horses (1 µg/kg BW). Blood and saliva were collected every 30 min for 3 h from a jugular vein catheter, and analyzed for TC and SC, the ratio of free cortisol (rFC), and the concentration of FC (cFC) in plasma. During the entire sampling period of the ACTH test, plasma TC was paralleled by blood cFC, rFC, and SC in both cows and horses. All cortisol fractions increased within 30 min of ACTH administration compared to basal values (0 min, P < 0.05). Peak TC concentration reached 63.2 ± 9.6 ng/mL and 73.2 ± 11.8 ng/mL in bovine and equine plasma, respectively. Peak values of rFC averaged 17.9 ± 4.5% in cows and 19.2 ± 7.8% in horses. The ratio of SC to cFC in horses remained similar during the ACTH challenge suggesting that SC is recruited from plasma FC. However, SC increased less compared to plasma TC and FC during HPA axis activation in cows. In conclusion, the short-term activation of the HPA axis caused not only an elevation of TC, but also a similar increase of rFC in both species. SC closely reflected changes of FC in horses, but less accurately in cows. The concomitant evaluation of changes among cortisol fractions might give further indications on adaptation mechanisms in glucocorticoid regulation as well as differentiate cortisol-related health disorders.
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Publication Date: 2018-01-30 PubMed ID: 29378066PubMed Central: PMC6140936DOI: 10.1093/jas/skx008Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates how cortisol levels in dairy cows and horses respond to a standardized activation of their hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis using synthetic Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH). It also explores the extent to which saliva cortisol is representative of alterations in plasma-free cortisol and adrenal cortex reactivity.

Objective of the Study

The goal of this study was to establish a method that can assess free cortisol (the form of cortisol that actively regulates metabolic and immunological processes) in cows and horses. This method allows interpretation of the proportional changes of cortisol in saliva and blood in response to a standardized HPA axis activation via synthetic ACTH. The researchers also aimed to determine if the ratios of cortisol fractions at basal levels in healthy horses and dairy cows change during HPA axis activation, and how reliable saliva cortisol (SC) is for presenting alterations in plasma-free cortisol (FC) and adrenal cortex reactivity.

Methodology

  • Synthetic ACTH was administered intravenously to eight dairy cows and five horses. The dosages were based on published data.
  • For 3 hours, blood and saliva were collected every 30 minutes from a jugular vein catheter. These samples were analyzed for total cortisol (TC) and SC, the ratio of free cortisol (rFC), and the concentration of FC in plasma.

Findings

  • All cortisol fractions increased within 30 minutes of ACTH administration compared to basal values (0 minutes).
  • Peak TC concentration reached 63.2 ± 9.6 ng/mL in bovine plasma and 73.2 ± 11.8 ng/mL in equine plasma.
  • Peak values of rFC averaged 17.9 ± 4.5% in cows and 19.2 ± 7.8% in horses.
  • The SC to cFC ratio in horses remained similar throughout the ACTH challenge, indicating that SC is sourced from plasma FC.
  • However, SC increased less compared to plasma TC and FC during HPA axis activation in cows.’

Conclusion

The research concluded that the short-term activation of the HPA axis through the administration of ACTH causes elevation of TC and a similar increase of rFC in both species. SC changes closely reflected FC changes in horses, but less accurately in cows. Understanding these changes among cortisol fractions could provide further insight into glucocorticoid regulation adaptation mechanisms and differentiate cortisol-related health disorders.

Cite This Article

APA
Schwinn AC, Sauer FJ, Gerber V, Bruckmaier RM, Gross JJ. (2018). Free and bound cortisol in plasma and saliva during ACTH challenge in dairy cows and horses. J Anim Sci, 96(1), 76-84. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skx008

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 96
Issue: 1
Pages: 76-84

Researcher Affiliations

Schwinn, Ann-Catherine
  • Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Sauer, Fay J
  • Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Swiss Institute for Equine Medicine (ISME), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
Gerber, Vincenz
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Swiss Institute for Equine Medicine (ISME), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
Bruckmaier, Rupert M
  • Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Gross, Josef J
  • Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

MeSH Terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Administration, Intravenous / veterinary
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Cattle / blood
  • Cattle / physiology
  • Dairying
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / metabolism
  • Hormones / administration & dosage
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / physiology
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Hydrocortisone / blood
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Specimen Handling / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
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