title: Effects of vasectomy surgery and meloxicam treatment on faecal corticosterone levels and behaviour in two strains of laboratory mouse.
abstract: Behaviour was assessed in 32 C57BL/6JCrl and 32 C3H/HeN male mice 1 h following vasectomy; saline or meloxicam was administered 30 min prior to surgery at 5, 10, or 20 mg kg(-1). Faeces were collected 24 h prior to, and 3, 6, 9, 12, 24 h following, vasectomy for measurement of faecal corticosterone. Peak corticosterone levels were significantly higher in mice that underwent vasectomy and received saline (p<0.001) or meloxicam at 5 or 10 mg kg(-1) (p=0.021, and p<0.001, respectively) compared with normal un-operated controls. Mice that underwent vasectomy and received 20 mg kg(-1) meloxicam had peak corticosterone levels that were not different from normal un-operated mice (p=0.254). Discriminant analysis was used to identify behaviours responsible for group separation; these were summed to create two behaviour scores. Score 2 (the frequency of flinching, writhing, rear leg lift and press 2) was thought to be pain related; mice that underwent vasectomy and received saline exhibited significantly more of these behaviours than the normal controls (p=0.032), and the mice that received meloxicam (at any dose). Strain differences were observed in both the stress response to vasectomy and the behavioural changes; the C3H/HeN mice had higher pain scores (behaviour Score 2) and peak corticosterone responses than the C57BL/6JCrl mice. We have demonstrated that significant changes occur in the behaviour of mice following vasectomy, and these changes are reduced by use of meloxicam. Vasectomy elicits a rise in corticosterone levels that was only reduced by the highest dose of meloxicam.
authors.affiliation: Comparative Biology Centre, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. s.l.wright-williams@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Siân L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Wright-Williams
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Courade
authors.forename: Claire A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Roughan
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Flecknell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013045:Species Specificity; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013843:Thiazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014659:Vasectomy
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000077239:Meloxicam; D003345:Corticosterone