title: Effects of exposure to plant-derived odorants on behavior and the concentration of stress-related hormones in steers isolated under a novel environment.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate physiological and behavioral effects of the exposure to plant-derived odorants in Holstein steers (8 month of age) under the acute stress of social isolation in a novel environment. Each steer was tethered in a new room alone and exposed to one of three odorants: a mixture of equal amounts of trans-2-hexenal and cis-3-hexenol (green odor, GO; n = 5), essential oil of grapefruits (EOG; n = 5) and solvent (SOL; n = 6). Behaviors were recorded and blood samples were taken at intervals of 10-15 min for 6 h. Compared with SOL, exposure to GO or EOG decreased the frequency of vocalization (P < 0.05), shortened the latency period before the onset of rumination (P < 0.05) and increased the duration of rumination (P < 0.05). Plasma cortisol concentrations in steers exposed to plant-derived odorants (GO and EOG) during 90-130 min from commencement of sampling were significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared with SOL. These results suggest that appeasing effects of plant-derived odorants on behavioral and physiological stress responses previously reported in laboratory rodents could be also be expected in steers.
authors: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Group, National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. madoka@affrc.go.jp
authors: Madoka
authors: M
authors: Sutoh
authors: Shuichi
authors: S
authors: Ito
authors: Etsuko
authors: E
authors: Kasuya
authors: Ken-Ichi
authors: K
authors: Yayou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone