Salivary testosterone measurements in growing pigs: validation of an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay and its possible use as an acute stress marker.
This study aimed to validate the use of an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay analyser for salivary testosterone measurements in growing pigs and study how circadian pattern during daytime and stress can influence its values. The test method had intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation lower than 10%. The method showed good linearity and recovery, and detection limits were low enough to detect salivary testosterone levels. No significant differences were observed in testosterone concentrations at different sampling time, and age and gender did not influence circadian pattern. In addition, this assay was used to quantify testosterone in two models of acute stress and, in both cases, significant increases (P< 0.01) in salivary testosterone were detected. Therefore, the automated assay system tested for porcine testosterone determinations would be suitable for its use in saliva samples and, furthermore, salivary testosterone levels could be used as a possible marker of acute stress in pigs.
Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
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D
Escribano
Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
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Fuentes-Rubio
Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis, Interlab-UMU, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Espinardo, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: jjceron@um.es.
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JJ
Cerón
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D013739:Testosterone
Acute stress; Automated chemiluminescent immunoassay; Pig; Salivary testosterone