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. 1993 Mar 1;34(1):59–68. doi: 10.1186/BF03548224

The Effect of Transport Stress on Plasma Levels of Catecholamines, Cortisol, Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin, Blood Cell Count, and Lymphocyte Proliferation in Pigs

A-M Dalin 18,✉, U Magnusson 18, J Häggendal 18, L Nyberg 18
PMCID: PMC8112529  PMID: 8342466

Abstract

The effect of transport stress on the plasma levels of catecholamines, Cortisol, and corticosteroid-binding globulin were studied in 6 gilts. To assess the effect on immune status, white blood cells were also counted and the cell-mediated immunity was estimated. The adrenaline level increased significantly during transport, from a basal mean level of 0.03 ng/ml to a plateau level of 0.11 to 0.12 ng/ml. The noradrenaline level fluctuated, but not constantly, during transport. The mean plasma Cortisol level before loading was approximately 40 nmol/1 and rose immediately after the start of transport to 70 nmol/1 (p< 0.05) and to 87 nmol/1 (p< 0.01) within 10 and 30 min, respectively. After unloading the Cortisol level rapidly decreased and a minimum level was seen 4 h after the transport, whereafter the diurnal rhythm was resumed. The plasma corticosteroid-binding globulin level increased nonsignificantly during the day of transport, from 25 nmol/1 to a level of 34 nmol/1, and it continued to increase until a plateau level was reached on the second day after transportation. The total white blood cell number increased significantly (from 13.7 to 15.5 × 109 cells/1), the number of lymphocytes decreased significantly (from 8.4 to 7.0 × 109 cells/1), and the number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils increased significantly (from 4.3 to 7.2 × 109 cells/1) during transport. No significant variation in the proliferation response was seen in the whole blood cell cultures. The main results were the significant signs of simultaneous activity of both the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla during transport.

Keywords: gilts, transportation, WBC, lymphocyte-proliferation test

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Acknowledgment

The study was supported by grants from the Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research and the Swedish Medical Research Council (project no. 166).

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