Validation of a fecal glucocorticoid assay to assess adrenocortical activity in meerkats using physiological and biological stimuli

dc.contributor.authorGoncalves, Ines Braga
dc.contributor.authorHeistermann, Michael
dc.contributor.authorSantema, Peter
dc.contributor.authorDantzer, Ben
dc.contributor.authorMausbach, Jelena
dc.contributor.authorGanswindt, Andre
dc.contributor.authorManser, Marta B.
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-14T06:16:59Z
dc.date.available2016-06-14T06:16:59Z
dc.date.issued2016-04-14
dc.descriptionSUPPORTING INFORMATION : S1 FILE. Group FGCM response (median ± SE, μg/g) to a natural attack on a group member (ZIM005) that resulted in its permanent eviction. The victim showed the greatest FGCM response to the event. Group FGCM levels returned to baseline levels after the male was removed from the colony. “Within 48 h” represent FGCM levels measured within 2 days after the attack on M5 took place. = p < 0.01 (Fig A). Average (median ± SE) baseline FGCM levels (μg/g) in fecal samples deposited in the morning (AM), at midday (MD) and late afternoon (PM), as measured with the 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone assay. N = 128 fecal samples from 13 individuals. = p < 0.05 (Fig B). Remove selecteden_ZA
dc.description.abstractIn mammals, glucocorticoid (i.e. GC) levels have been associated with specific life-history stages and transitions, reproductive strategies, and a plethora of behaviors. Assessment of adrenocortical activity via measurement of glucocorticoid metabolites in feces (FGCM) has greatly facilitated data collection from wild animals, due to its non-invasive nature, and thus has become an established tool in behavioral ecology and conservation biology. The aim of our study was to validate a fecal glucocorticoid assay for assessing adrenocortical activity in meerkats (Suricata suricatta), by comparing the suitability of three GC enzyme immunoassays (corticosterone, 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone and 11oxo-etiocholanolone) in detecting FGCM increases in adult males and females following a pharmacological challenge with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and biological stimuli. In addition, we investigated the time course characterizing FGCM excretion, the effect of age, sex and time of day on FGCM levels and assessed the potential effects of soil contamination (sand) on FGCM patterns. Our results show that the group specific 11β-hydroxyetiocholanolone assay was most sensitive to FGCM alterations, detecting significant and most distinctive elevations in FGCM levels around 25 h after ACTH administration. We found no age and sex differences in basal FGCM or on peak response levels to ACTH, but a marked diurnal pattern, with FGCM levels being substantially higher in the morning than later during the day. Soil contamination did not significantly affect FGCM patterns. Our results emphasize the importance of conducting assay validations to characterize species-specific endocrine excretion patterns, a crucial step to all animal endocrinology studies using a non-invasive approach.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentAnatomy and Physiologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2016en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Swiss National Science Foundation (grant no. 31003A_13676) to Marta B. Manser, the University of Zurich, and by an ERC grant (no. 294494, THCB2011) to Tim H. Clutton-Brock at the University of Cambridge.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.plosone.orgen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBraga Goncalves I, Heistermann M, Santema P, Dantzer B, Mausbach J, Ganswindt A, et al. (2016) Validation of a Fecal Glucocorticoid Assay to Assess Adrenocortical Activity in Meerkats Using Physiological and Biological Stimuli. PLoS ONE 11 (4): e0153161. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153161.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203
dc.identifier.other10.1371/journal.pone.0153161
dc.identifier.other10.5061/dryad.5fv17
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/53094
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.rights© 2016 Braga Goncalves et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_ZA
dc.subjectMammalen_ZA
dc.subjectSoil contaminationen_ZA
dc.subjectGlucocorticoid metaboliteen_ZA
dc.subjectAdrenocortical activityen_ZA
dc.subjectGlucocorticoid (GC)en_ZA
dc.subjectFaecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM)en_ZA
dc.subjectMeerkat (Suricata suricatta)en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshAdrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)en_ZA
dc.titleValidation of a fecal glucocorticoid assay to assess adrenocortical activity in meerkats using physiological and biological stimulien_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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