Journal article

Relationship between plasma and tissue corticosterone in laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus): Implications for stress physiology and animal welfare

CR Ralph, PH Hemsworth, BJ Leury, AJ Tilbrook

Domestic Animal Endocrinology | Published : 2015

Abstract

This study directly compared the dynamics of change in plasma corticosterone concentration with the dynamics of change in tissue corticosterone concentration in laying hens. In concert, we measured the rate of gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, and glycolysis in the liver, kidney, skeletal muscle, and heart. We evaluated these changes acutely, over 3h in response to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) injection, and chronically, over 24h in response to food and water deprivation. In response to ACTH injection, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma corticosterone concentration and a parallel significant increase in corticosterone concentration in the skeletal muscle, kidney, and..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

Funding for this study was provided by Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Center and the ([then] Victorian Department of Primary Industries) (now) Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries. The authors acknowledge the contribution of the late Associate Professor John Barnett who had intellectual input into this research before his death. They thank Fahri Fahri for his superb assistance in the laboratory, Sarah Drew for her laboratory assistance, and the technical staff at the Animal Welfare Science Center. The authors have nothing to declare.