Hematological parameters variation by corticosterone in Passer domesticus.

PADRONES MN; CID F.; CHEDIACK, JG

San Luis

Congreso; Reunión Científica Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo; 2017

Universidad Nacional de San Luis

It is known that stress situations (e.g. predation, climatic changes, pathogens) affect the nutritional and immunological individual state. The hematological and biochemical parameters are useful tools to test nutritional and health status in animals. Our objective was to determine the effect of corticosterone (stress hormone in birds) on hematological parameters in Passer domesticus. Thirty two sparrows were exposed to different concentrations of CORT in drinking water (0, 20, 40 and 80 mg/l) for 72 hours emulating a long-term stress situation. The heterophil to lymphocyte ratio (H/L) was used as an indicator of stress in birds. Hematocrit, serum protein profile by native PAGE, and plasma concentration of triglyceride, uric acid, glucose and total proteins were determined. We analyzed the data using a one-way and RM-ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test (p<0.05). We found a proportional increase in H/L ratio and a significant decrease in the hematocrit in all the tested treatments. A significant increase in the β fraction of the birds treated with 40 and 80mg/l of CORT and a decrease in the concentration of uric acid to all treatments were observed, while triglycerides, total proteins and glucose remain constant through all treatments. Uric acid is known as a potent antioxidant and could be absorbed into tissues to protect against tissue damage due to increased metabolism associated to stress in birds. On the other hand, the increase in the H/L index and β fraction denote an immunological change associated to stress. Supported by UNSL 2-0516 to FDC and UNSL 2-0814 to ECV-JGC.