Behavioural effects of embryonic exposure to corticosterone in chickens |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;2. Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5305 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA;2. Department of Animal Science;3. Department of Crop Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia;1. Department of Animal Biosciences, Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada;2. Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada;3. Department of Animal Biosciences, The Campbell Centre for the Study of Animal Welfare, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada;4. Research & Development, Hybrid Turkeys, Kitchener, Ontario N2K 3S2, Canada;1. Faculty of Agriculture Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, 49090 Osnabrück, Germany;2. Clinic for Poultry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30559 Hannover, Germany;3. Institute for Animal Hygiene, Animal Welfare and Farm Animal Behavior, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Foundation), 30173 Hannover, Germany;4. EW GROUP GmbH, 49429 Visbek, Germany |
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| Abstract: | We tested the hypothesis that exposure of chick embryos to corticosterone leads to increased fear, reduced competitive ability, reduced ability to cross a barrier and reduced growth in juvenile chicks. Behaviour was studied in birds subjected to three different egg injection treatments: a negative control (no treatment of eggs), a positive control (100 μl sesame oil vehicle) and a corticosterone treatment (0.6 μg corticosterone in 100 μl sesame oil). Eggs were injected prior to incubation and the behaviour of chicks was studied during the first 4 weeks of life. Corticosterone treatment increased fear in chicks, as indicated by greater avoidance of an observer in the home pen at 2 weeks of age (P < 0.0001), reduced ability to cross a wall to access feed at 2 weeks of age (P < 0.05) and reduced ability to compete for a wormlike object at 4 weeks of age (P < 0.01). Treatment with corticosterone also reduced body weight at 1 week of age (P < 0.003) and 4 weeks of age (P < 0.04), but not at hatch (P < 0.28). The sesame oil vehicle reduced fear (P < 0.0001), but had no other significant effects. These results indicate that embryonic exposure to corticosterone leads to behavioural and growth deficits in chicks. |
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