Adrenal Activity and Anxiety-like Behavior in Fur-Chewing Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2012 |
Authors: |
M. F. Ponzio, S. L. Monfort, J. M. Busso, V. P. Carlini, R. D. Ruiz, M. Fiol de Cuneo |
Publication/Journal: |
Hormones and Behavior |
Keywords: |
abnormal repetitive behavior, abnormal repetitive behaviour, fur-chewing, plus-maze, stress, urinary cortisol metabolite |
ISBN: |
0018506X |
Abstract:
Due to its complexity, in combination with a lack of scientific reports, fur-chewing became one of the most challenging behavioral problems common to captive chinchillas. In the last years, the hypothesis that furchewing is an abnormal repetitive behavior and that stress plays a role in its development and performance has arisen. Here, we investigated whether a relationship existed between the expression and intensity of fur-chewing behavior, elevated urinary cortisol excretion and anxiety-related behaviors. Specifically, we evaluated the following parameters in behaviorally normal and fur-chewing animals of both sexes: 1) mean concentrations of urinary cortisol metabolites and 2) anxiety-like behavior in an elevated plus-maze test. Urinary cortisol metabolites were higher only in females that expressed the most severe form of the fur-chewing behavior (P≤0.05). Likewise, only fur-chewing females exhibited increased (P≤0.05) anxiety-like behaviors associated with the elevated plus-maze test. Overall, these data provided additional evidence to support the concept that fur-chewing is a manifestation of physiological stress in chinchilla, and that a female sex bias exists in the development of this abnormal behavior.