Road transportation affects blood hormone levels and lymphocyte glucocorticoid and beta-adrenergic receptor concentrations in calves

The effect of transportation on blood cortisol and catecholamine levels, lymphocyte glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and badrenergic receptor (b-AR) concentrations was investigated in calves. Blood samples were collected from 24 six-month-old calves before departure (T0), on arrival (T1), and at 24 h (T2) and one week (T3) after arrival. Animals were loaded and transported about 950 km, from the Midy-Pyr_enes region (Cahors, France) to the Piedmont region (Italy), over a total of 14 h. Serum cortisol levels and plasma catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Lymphocyte GRs and b-ARs were measured through binding assays. A significant (P < 0:05) increase in cortisol and catecholamine concentrations was observed immediately after transport. The increase in hormone levels at time T1 was negatively correlated with lymphocyte GR and b-AR concentrations. At times T2 and T3, blood cortisol and catecholamine levels and lymphocyte GRs and b-ARs returned to normal. The results demonstrate the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the catecholaminergic system in long-term transported calves. However, these systems returned to normal within 24 h after the end of transport.