title: Measurement of cortisol metabolites in faeces of ruminants.
abstract: Twenty-one metabolites were detected in faecal samples collected after infusion of (14C)cortisol into the jugular vein of sheep. Using high-performance liquid chromatography/radiometric analysis plus mass spectrometry. One group of metabolites had molecular weights of between 302 and 308, and another group of 350, which indicates that the substances have a C19O3 or a C21O4 structure. Therefore, an enzyme immunoassay against 5beta-androstane-3alpha-ol-11,17-dione-17-CMO:BSA was established. Faecal samples were collected from 10 cows immediately after transport and then during a course in which non-invasive diagnostic procedures were being taught (course 1). For comparison, faeces were sampled from another 5 cows that were being used for teaching invasive procedures (course 2). Six cows from a university farm served as controls. In the animals used in course 1, the highest concentrations of cortisol metabolites were measured immediately after transport to the university (median value: 2.2 micromol/kg faeces). During the first 5 days at the university, the concentrations decreased to 0.52 micromol/kg (median) and remained at this level during the rest of the course. The median concentration in the samples that were taken during coursc 2 (collected about 2 months after transport) was 0.48 micromol/kg. There was no significant difference in the excretion of cortisol metabolites between these cows and the controls. We conclude from these data that, using the enzyme immunoassay against 5beta-androstane-3alpha-ol-11,17-dione-17-CMO, we were able to detect transport/novel environment stress but not the potential disturbance that cows experience during diagnostic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biochemie and Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Veterinärmedizinische Endokrinologie, Vienna, Austria. Erich.moestl@vu-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Möstl
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Maggs
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schrötter
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Besenfelder
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palme
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D006854:Hydrocortisone