Changes in cortisol and glucose concentrations in rabbits transported to the slaughterhouse

The effect of transport on Cortisol and Glucose serum concentrations were assessed in rabbits during summer and winter. Animals were divided into high (HSA, 307 cm2/rabbit), medium (MSA, 373 cm2/rabbit) and low space allowance (LSA, 475 cm2/rabbit) transport groups, and rabbits slaughtered directly in the farm were used as control group (C). During summer, cortisol and glucose concentrations were significantly higher in HSA (high space allowance), MSA and LSA than in C rabbits (P<0.01). LSA cortisol concentrations were significantly lower than MSA and HSA samples and MSA rabbits\u2019 glycaemia was significantly higher (P<0.01) compared with HSA animals. During winter, cortisol concentrations in group C were significantly lower than in MSA and HSA groups. Glycaemia in group C was lower than in LSA (P<0.01) and HSA (P<0.02) groups. Cortisol and glucose levels in summer were significantly higher than in winter. Our data clearly show that some stress-related physiological parameters are significantly modified by transport, in particular in the case of overcrowded transport crates

Research Ethics I: Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)—Historical and Contemporary Issues Pertaining to Human and Animal Experimentation

In this series of articles--Research Ethics I, Research Ethics II, and Research Ethics III--the authors provide a comprehensive review of the 9 core domains for the responsible conduct of research (RCR) as articulated by the Office of Research Integrity. In Research Ethics I, they present a historical overview of the evolution of RCR in the United States then examine the evolution of human and animal experimentation from the birth of scientific medicine through World War II to the present day