Analysis of Hair Cortisol Levels in Captive Chimpanzees: Effect of Various Methods on Cortisol Stability and Variability

January 2016 in “ MethodsX ”

Yumi Yamanashi, Migaku Teramoto, Naruki Morimura, Satoshi Hirata, Juri Suzuki, Misato Hayashi, Kodzue Kinoshita, Miho Murayama, Gen’ichi Idani

hair cortisol cortisol stability cortisol variability stress monitoring cortisol concentrations

TLDR Hair cortisol analysis is a reliable tool for monitoring long-term stress in captive chimpanzees if certain variables are controlled.

The study on 72 captive chimpanzees found that hair cortisol levels were stable across different measurement protocols, making it a reliable tool for monitoring long-term stress. It determined that at least 5 mg of hair was needed for accurate measurement, with 10 mg being preferable. Factors such as grinding fineness, extraction time, body part, and hair color affected cortisol concentrations, while storage, drying, and consistent sampling locations did not. Hair from the side of the body and white hair showed higher cortisol levels. The study concluded that hair cortisol analysis could be effectively used in various laboratory settings to understand stress-related issues in captive animals, provided that variables causing variations are controlled.

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