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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Livestock Issues Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #224654
Title: The influence of temperament on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced secretion of epinephrine and cortisol in bulls.

Author
item BURDICK, NICOLE - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Carroll, Jeffery - Jeff Carroll
item RANDEL, RON - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item VANN, RHONDA - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item WILLARD, SCOTT - MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
item CALDWELL, LISA - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Hulbert, Lindsey
item WELSH, TOM - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Endocrine Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2008
Publication Date: 6/1/2008
Citation: Burdick, N., Carroll, J.A., Randel, R., Vann, R., Willard, S., Caldwell, L., Hulbert, L.E., Welsh, T. 2008. The influence of temperament on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced secretion of epinephrine and cortisol in cattle [abstract]. Proceedings of the 90th Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society Meeting, June 15-18, 2008, San Francisco, CA. Abstract #2473.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The host's complex reaction to a pathogenic stressor involves interaction of the neural, endocrine, and immune systems. For example, exposure to bacteria stimulates secretion of the stress-related hormones, cortisol (CS) and epinephrine (Epi; 1). Innate and induced secretion of CS and Epi are influenced by temperament, as more temperamental cattle (T) exhibit higher concentrations of CS and Epi relative to calm cattle (C; 2). This study was designed to determine the effect of temperament on CS and Epi secretion in response to a provocative challenge with LPS. Brahman bulls (10 months of age) were selected from the spring 2007 calf crop based on temperament score which was an average of exit velocity (EV; objective measure) and pen score (PS; subjective behavior score; 3). The bulls with the lowest (C; n=8; 0.87 m/s EV and 1 PS), middle (M; n=8; 1.59 m/s EV and 2.25 PS), and highest (T; n=8; 3.70 m/s EV and 4.88 PS) scores were used for this study. Bulls were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters and allowed to rest overnight. Blood samples were collected the next day every 30 min beginning 2 h prior to and continuing 8 h after LPS administration (0.75 ug/kg LPS iv). Serum CS and Epi concentrations were determined by RIA and EIA, respectively. Data were analyzed by the PROC mixed procedure for repeated measures (SAS; Cary, NC). Prior to LPS administration, T bulls had higher concentrations of CS (19.3 +/- 1.7 ng/mL) and Epi (239.8 +/- 30.7 pg/mL) relative to C (12.1 +/- 2.0 ng/mL and 49.0 +/- 35.3 pg/mL, respectively) and M bulls (12.1 +/- 1.8 ng/mL and 70.9 +/- 30.6 pg/mL, respectively; P<0.01). After LPS administration, CS concentration increased through 2 h post-LPS, and remained elevated for 8 h post-LPS (P<0.01). Post-LPS CS concentration was not affected by temperament (P>0.05). Concentration of Epi peaked 1 h after LPS administration, with C bulls having a greater peak Epi (849.2 +/- 107.1 pg/mL) than M (352.5 +/- 87.1 pg/mL) and T bulls (417.2 +/- 90.7 pg/ml; P<0.01). Following the peak, Epi concentration returned to the pre-LPS concentration, with T bulls having greater Epi through 8 h post-LPS relative to C and M bulls (P<0.01). These data suggest that temperament affects the degree of response of the bovine adrenal medulla, but not the cortex, to provocative LPS challenge.