Salivary Biomarkers of Acute Stress and Insulin Sensitivity in Nonhuman Primates

Saliva may be a superior matrix for physiologic measurement because it is noninvasive and allows short-term assessment. Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) is a novel biomarker of stress in humans, has implications with diabetes, and could be a new tool for improving health and welfare in zoo animals. The goals of our study were to 1) validate measures of salivary insulin, cortisol and sAA and 2) explore relationships between these measures. Saliva was collected twice daily for two weeks in gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla), mangabeys (Cercocebus chrysogaster), red ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra) and mongoose lemurs (Eulemur mongoz). Hormones were analyzed with enzyme kinetic or immunoassays. Our study validated tools for analyzing alpha-amylase, cortisol, and insulin in saliva for those species. No significant relationship was found between sAA and insulin. Cortisol and sAA were highly correlated in gorillas and trended toward significance in the mangabey, supporting sAA as a stress marker in gorillas.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Sciences

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor dc:publisher

Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Browning, Geoffrey Robinson

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dennis, Dr. Patricia

• Animal Diseases
• Animals
• Biology
• Endocrinology
• Wildlife Conservation
• Wildlife Management
• salivary biomarkers
• nonhuman primates
• zoo animals
• acute stress
• insulin sensitivity
• diabetes

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1354912347

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:case1354912347