Physiological and behavioural stress responses in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to noise associated with construction work

TY - JOUR

T1 - Physiological and behavioural stress responses in cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) to noise associated with construction work

AU - Westlund, K

AU - Fernström, A-L

AU - Wergård, E-M

AU - Fredlund, H

AU - Hau, J

AU - Spångberg, M

PY - 2012/1/1

Y1 - 2012/1/1

N2 - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioural and physiological responses to environmental disturbances (live and recorded dynamite explosions) in laboratory non-human primates in preparation for a future tunnel construction underneath our animal facility. In a pilot study (A) on 20 female Macaca fascicularis, a day of test blasts resulted in an increase in faecal cortisol and immunoreactive cortisol metabolites (CICM), and the animals reacted behaviourally with vertical flight and vocalizations. In a follow-up study (B), we assessed the impact of 10 days of exposure to recorded detonations on the behaviour and CICM in 16 M. fascicularis. In the latter study we introduced a predictive signal, serving as a conditional stimulus, to half of the animals. We found no significant effects of the noise in the Signal group; while the Control groups' CICM values were affected. The behaviour was largely unaffected in the two groups. It was decided not to introduce a research moratorium on biomedical research planned to be conducted during the future tunnel construction, and that a conditional stimulus ('warning signal') will be used.

AB - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioural and physiological responses to environmental disturbances (live and recorded dynamite explosions) in laboratory non-human primates in preparation for a future tunnel construction underneath our animal facility. In a pilot study (A) on 20 female Macaca fascicularis, a day of test blasts resulted in an increase in faecal cortisol and immunoreactive cortisol metabolites (CICM), and the animals reacted behaviourally with vertical flight and vocalizations. In a follow-up study (B), we assessed the impact of 10 days of exposure to recorded detonations on the behaviour and CICM in 16 M. fascicularis. In the latter study we introduced a predictive signal, serving as a conditional stimulus, to half of the animals. We found no significant effects of the noise in the Signal group; while the Control groups' CICM values were affected. The behaviour was largely unaffected in the two groups. It was decided not to introduce a research moratorium on biomedical research planned to be conducted during the future tunnel construction, and that a conditional stimulus ('warning signal') will be used.

KW - Animals

KW - Conditioning, Classical

KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

KW - Escape Reaction

KW - Feces

KW - Female

KW - Hydrocortisone

KW - Macaca fascicularis

KW - Noise

KW - Stress, Physiological

KW - Stress, Psychological

KW - Vocalization, Animal

U2 - 10.1258/la.2011.011040

DO - 10.1258/la.2011.011040

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22072624

SN - 0023-6772

VL - 46

SP - 51

EP - 58

JO - Laboratory Animals

JF - Laboratory Animals

IS - 1

ER -