J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rushen, J.
Right arrow Articles by de Passille, A. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rushen, J.
Right arrow Articles by de Passille, A. M.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 77, Issue 11 2918-2924, Copyright © 1999 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Opioid peptides and behavioral and physiological responses of dairy cows to social isolation in unfamiliar surroundings

J. Rushen, A. Boissy, E. M. Terlouw and A. M. de Passille
Dairy and Swine Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lennoxville, Quebec. rushenj@em.agr.ca

To test whether endogenous opioid peptides are involved in the behavioral and physiological responses of cattle to stress, 12 Holstein cows were either placed in social isolation in unfamiliar surroundings for 15 min or remained in their home stalls, either with or without naloxone treatment, following a Latin square design. Vocalizations (judged as high or low frequency), defecation/urination, and heart rate were recorded, latency to respond to local thermal stimulation of the leg by means of a laser was measured to detect pain sensitivity, and blood was sampled and assayed for cortisol concentrations. Naloxone in the home stall increased cortisol concentrations and tended to reduce response latencies to the laser but did not induce vocalization. Social isolation increased the incidence of high-frequency vocalization and of defecation/urination, heart rate, cortisol concentrations, and response latencies to the laser. Prior administration of naloxone increased the incidence of low-frequency vocalization in isolation, but it had no effect on heart rate or on responses to the laser and only limited effect on cortisol concentrations when the cows were isolated. Brief periods of social isolation in unfamiliar surroundings seem to be stressful to cows, as indicated by increased heart rate, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis activity, and vocalization. Isolation also reduces pain sensitivity, suggesting a stress-induced analgesia. However, we found no evidence that naloxone-sensitive opioid receptors were involved in these responses.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
M. S. Herskin, L. Munksgaard, and J. B. Andersen
Effects of social isolation and restraint on adrenocortical responses and hypoalgesia in loose-housed dairy cows
J Anim Sci, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 240 - 247.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
L. Mounier, I. Veissier, and A. Boissy
Behavior, physiology, and performance of bulls mixed at the onset of finishing to form uniform body weight groups
J Anim Sci, July 1, 2005; 83(7): 1696 - 1704.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
J. K. Apple, E. B. Kegley, D. L. Galloway, T. J. Wistuba, and L. K. Rakes
Duration of restraint and isolation stress as a model to study the dark-cutting condition in cattle
J Anim Sci, May 1, 2005; 83(5): 1202 - 1214.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J ANIM SCIHome page
M. S. Herskin, R. Muller, L. Schrader, and J. Ladewig
A laser-based method to measure thermal nociception in dairy cows: Short-term repeatability and effects of power output and skin condition
J Anim Sci, April 1, 2003; 81(4): 945 - 954.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1999 by the American Society of Animal Science.