Effect of restraining growth pigs with snare restraints on plasma levels of catecholamines, cortisol, insulin and metabolic parameters
Neubert, E.; Gürtler, H.; Vallentin, G.
Berliner und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 109(11-12): 409-413
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0005-9366 PMID: 8999773 Document Number: 464184
The aim of the experiments was to evaluate the effect of an acute stressor (snare restraint for 5 min) on hormonal and metabolic parameters in pigs and to look for parameters which reflect best the stress intensity. The snare restraint resulted in an increase in plasma level of epinephrine from 88 +/- 12 to 2264 +/- 470 pg/ml and in plasma level of norepinephrine from 206 +/- 14 to 7727 +/- 1969 pg/ml within a minute. In contrast, the cortisol level showed a delayed increase from 30.8 +/- 4.9 to 101.8 +/- 12.0 nmol/l. The inhibitory effect of catecholamines on insulin secretion resulted in a delayed increase of plasma level of insulin from 0.14 +/- 0.01 to 0.29 +/- 0.04 nmol/l. Moreover, there was a significant increase in haematocrit and in plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, free glycerol and ascorbic acid. A biphasic pattern in plasma level of potassium was observed. The present results suggest that besides the level of lactate the plasma concentration of catecholamines reflects best the individual degree of excitement and the time of physical strain.