Reproductive and pituitary-adrenal axis parameters in normal and prenatally stressed prepubertal blue foxes ( Alopex lagopus )

• Published in: Animal Science
• Main Authors: Osadchuk, L. V., Braastad, B. O., Hovland, A. L., Bakken, M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2003
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Alopex lagopus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s135772980005863x; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S135772980005863X

Abstract Man-animal relationships are involved in the process of fox domestication. Handling being an important part of man-animal contacts, causes stress responses in farm-bred blue foxes. The purpose of this study was to determine how prenatal stress induced by handling pregnant vixens influences certain morphometric and hormonal parameters of adrenocortical and gonadal function in the prepubertal offspring. Blue fox females were subjected to daily handling sessions, each of 1 min, in the last trimester of pregnancy (term = 52 days). Plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, progesterone, oestradiol and testosterone, as well as the in vitro adrenal and gonadal production of steroids were measured by radio-immunoassay in control (C, no. = 56) and prenatally stressed (PS, no. = 56) blue fox cubs of both sexes at the age of 6 to 7 months. Prenatal stress decreased plasma concentration of cortisol (C: 31·0 (s.e. 4·3) v. PS: 22·7(s.e. 1·6) ng/ml, P < 0·05) as well as progesterone (C: 1·00(s.e. 0·10) v. PS: 0·65(s.e. 0·05) ng/ml, P < 0·05) in female cubs. Prenatal stress did not cause any changes in adrenal or gonadal weights, plasma concentrations of testosterone or oestradiol, or in vitro adrenal or gonadal steroid production, in either sex. It is concluded that persistent handling of pregnant blue foxes did not affect the prepubertal development of the reproductive system but resulted in disregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in the female offspring.