Behavioral Assessment of Stress Compensation in Minipigs Transgenic for the Huntington Gene Using Cortisol Levels: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Autor: | Robin Schubert, Jan Motlik, Sarah Schramke, Verena Schuldenzucker, Ralf Reilmann, Tamara Matheis, Frauke Freisfeld, Lisa M. Muratori, Nicole Kemper, Lorena Rieke, Ute Radespiel |
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Rok vydání: | 2018 |
Předmět: |
0301 basic medicine
Huntington gene endocrine system Saliva Hydrocortisone Respiratory rate Swine Transgene Physiology Proof of Concept Study Animals Genetically Modified 03 medical and health sciences Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience 0302 clinical medicine Respiratory Rate Huntington's disease Reference Values medicine Animals Cortisol level business.industry Stressor medicine.disease Disease Models Animal Huntington Disease 030104 developmental biology Swine Miniature Biomarker (medicine) Female Neurology (clinical) business Stress Psychological 030217 neurology & neurosurgery |
Zdroj: | Journal of Huntington's Disease. 7:151-161 |
ISSN: | 1879-6400 1879-6397 |
Popis: | BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant, progressive neurodegenerative disorder with motor, cognitive, behavioral and metabolic symptoms. HD patients exhibit an altered response to stress which is reflected in changes of cortisol levels. Large animal models of HD such as the Libechov minipig are currently explored in preclinical studies to improve translational reliability and assessing behavior is of interest. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate whether cortisol metabolism and response to stress are changed in minipigs transgenic for the Huntington gene (tgHD) compared to wildtype (wt) animals suggesting that cortisol may be used as a marker for stress in minipigs. METHODS Thirty-two Libechov minipigs (14 tgHD and 18 wt) were tested before, during and after a stressor, i.e., a hoof trimming procedure, was applied at baseline and after one year. A total of six saliva samples were collected at each assessment and cortisol was measured. In addition, body temperature and respiratory rate were assessed at three pre-determined points during each hoof trimming procedure. RESULTS All minipigs showed a rise of cortisol in response to the hoof trimming stressor similarly to cortisol changes induced by stress observed in humans. No relevant differences were detected between tgHD and wt minipigs. CONCLUSION Cortisol testing for the assessment of stress compensation, e.g., during hoof trimming, is feasible and well tolerated in wt and tgHD minipigs. To elucidate the time profile of cortisol responses to stressors further studies with assessments at multiple time points and exploration of the diurnal profiles of cortisol in minipigs are recommended. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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