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. 2016 Nov;55(6):749-755.

Effect of Overcrowding on Hair Corticosterone Concentrations in Juvenile Male Wistar Rats

Duvn G Uarquin  1 , Jerrold S Meyer  2 , Fernando P Cardenas  3 , Manuel J Rojas  4
Affiliations

Effect of Overcrowding on Hair Corticosterone Concentrations in Juvenile Male Wistar Rats

Duvn G Uarquin et al. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

In many species, chronic stress due to overcrowding during the juvenile period triggers several metabolic and behavioral pathologies in adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine whether a chronic stress condition (overcrowding) induces changes in plasma and hair corticosterone concentrations, overall growth, and organ weights in young Wistar rats. The experimental subjects were divided into 2 groups (control and overcrowded); the overcrowded subjects were exposed to overcrowding during days 38 through 65 after birth. Plasma and hair corticosterone concentrations were higher in overcrowded rats compared with control subjects. In addition, overcrowding reduced body and organ weight gains. These results demonstrate that measuring the concentration of corticosterone in hair samples is an effective, noninvasive method for monitoring chronic stress in rats.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Hair corticosterone levels of control rats (n = 9) and overcrowded rats (n = 9). Baseline values are those before overcrowding (postnatal day [PND] 38); those for PND 65 represent 27 d of overcrowding. Concentration data were log-transformed. For hair corticosterone analyses, 2-way nested mixed design ANOVA was used; different letters indicate that the values differ significantly (P < 0.01). Error bars indicate 1 SD. Posthoc univariate ANOVA were used to determinate specific group differences after overall ANOVA.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Plasma corticosterone levels of control rats (n = 9) and overcrowded rats (n = 9). Baseline values are those before overcrowding (postnatal day [PND] 38); those for PND 65 represent 27 d of overcrowding. Concentration data were log-transformed. For plasma corticosterone analyses, 2-way nested mixed design ANOVA was used; different letters indicate that the values differ significantly (P < 0.01). Error bars indicate 1 SD. Posthoc univariate ANOVA were used to determinate specific group differences after overall ANOVA.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Body weight of male juvenile Wistar rats on postnatal day (PND) 38 (before overcrowding); PND 44, 51, and 58 (during overcrowding); and PND 65 (after overcrowding). Gray line corresponds to the control group (n = 9); the green line corresponds to the overcrowded group (n = 9). For analysis of body weight, 2-way nested mixed-design ANOVA was used; *, P < 0.05; †, P < 0.01. Error bars indicate 1 SD. Posthoc univariate ANOVA were used to determinate specific group differences at each time point.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Absolute weight of (A) lung, (B) heart, (C) kidneys, and (D) adrenal glands of control rats (n = 8) and overcrowded rats (n = 9) on postnatal day 65 (after overcrowding). *, P < 0.05; †, P < 0.01; error bars, 1 SD.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Relative weight of (A) lung, (B) heart, (C) kidneys, and (D) adrenal glands of control rats (n = 8) and overcrowded rats (n = 9) on postnatal day 65 (after overcrowding). *, P < 0.05; †, P < 0.01; error bars, 1 SD.
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