Dear Renzo Bianchi

Thank you for your suggestion. Actually we want to measure the parameters after corticosteroid administration to the pig, then we want to assess the long term impact of it. So, what parameters can help to assess that effects exactly?

Thank you.

Hello,

corticosteroid administration triggers some physiological pathways. First, hyperglycemia: you can measure circulating glucose. It responds to corticosteroid administration after a short time but remains elevated even after corticosteroid clearance. Second, immune response: corticosteroid administration suppress immune function, especially when administered chronically. Thus, you can measure  circulating immune protein (complement system), lysozyme, immunoglobulins, and acute phase proteins. Also, leukocyte related immune functions could be assayed.

They are the main effects of corticosteroid administration. But, corticosteroid administration also can reduce bone formation (long term osteoporosis),

 Dear Seyyed Morteza Hoseini

Thanks a lot for your brief discussion. Could you please help me to get some research article regarding protocol in broilers or pigs or other non-ruminat species. It will be very much helpful for us.

Thanks again

I have no experience with animal other than fish. In fish, there are numerous studies on these topics since 1950. A quick search will give you a reasonable results. Many papers are available online for free. If you have any difficulties, let me know.

Good luck...

 Dear Seyyed Morteza Hoseini  and Renzo Bianchi

Thank you very much for your cordial response and suggestion. It will help to conduct the further reserach.

Great thanks again

You can also consider measuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites. Serum or salivary cortisol provide a measure referred to the moment you take the sample. Conversely, measuring fecal metabolites offers an integrated result which typically correspond to the intestinal transit time, and it's more appropriate to assess chronic stress. The ACTH test or Dex supression test will also help in evaluating the HPA axis response. You can find an interesting review in Mormede at al, 2007, Exploration of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal function as a tool to evaluate animal welfare, Physiology and Behavior, 92:317-339. 

 Dear Pilar Suárez Solar

Thank you very much for your kind information, gudelines and valuable research article.

Good luck