Validation of a radioimmunoassay for measuring fecal cortisol metabolites in the hystricomorph rodent, octodon degus
Author
dc.contributor.author
Soto-Gamboa, Mauricio
Author
dc.contributor.author
Gonzalez, Sandra
Author
dc.contributor.author
Hayes, Loren D.
Author
dc.contributor.author
Ebensperger, Luis A.
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2018-12-20T14:12:21Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2018-12-20T14:12:21Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2009
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, Volumen 311, Issue 7, 2018, Pages 496-503
Identifier
dc.identifier.issn
19325223
Identifier
dc.identifier.other
10.1002/jez.546
Identifier
dc.identifier.uri
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/154740
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
Determination of fecal steroid metabolites is a noninvasive technique that characterizes the physiological state of organisms without the physiological and psychological stress of handling. Although this technique has many applications in the study of wildlife and/or captive animals without the necessity of capturing individuals, it requires a species-specific validation before use. A complete validation includes an analytical and a physiological one. In the latter changes in fecal hormone metabolites are induced by previous manipulations of the respective plasma hormones. Here we validated a method for measuring fecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) in the hystricomorph rodent Octodon degus. We extracted feces with 80% ethanol and quantified steroids using a commercial available cortisol radioimmunoassay. We first compared baseline levels of blood cortisol and FCM, and then performed a challenge test with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to demonstrate that FCM accurately reflect adrenoc