Rupert Palme

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Verified

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• Dr.; Ao. Univ. Prof.
• Professor (Associate) at University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Animal welfare is of increasing importance and absence of chronic stress is one of its prerequisites. During stress, various endocrine responses are involved to improve the fitness of the individual. The front-line hormones to overcome stressful situations are the glucocorticoids and catecholamines. These hormones are determined as a parameter of a...

Stress responses play a key role in allowing animals to cope with change and challenge in the face of both environmental certainty and uncertainty. Measurement of glucocorticoid levels, key elements in the neuroendocrine stress axis, can give insight into an animal's well-being and can aid understanding ecological and evolutionary processes as well...

Faecal steroid hormone metabolites are becoming increasingly popular as parameters for reproductive functions and stress. The extraction of the steroids from the faecal matrix represents the initial step before quanti cation can be performed. The steroid metabolites present in the faecal matrix are of varying polarity and composition, so selection...

Glucocorticoids (GCs; i.e. cortisol/corticosterone) are a central component of the stress response and thus their measurement is frequently used to evaluate the impact of stressful situations. Their metabolites from faeces of various animal species are more and more taken as a non-invasive aid to assess GC release and thus adrenocortical activity....

Updated tables, figures and references of Palme, 2019, and the respective supplements (Date: 2nd January 2025)

Understanding how habitat quality affects wildlife is one of the fundamental questions of conservation biology and ecology. Across the tropics, habitat loss and degradation threaten arboreal species, such as primates. To establish well‐founded, species‐specific conservation management plans, it is crucial to have an adequate understanding of a spec...

Faecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolites (FCMs) have become increasingly popular as an easy‐to‐sample, non‐invasive and feedback‐free alternative to assess glucocorticoid (GC) levels, key components of the neuroendocrine stress response and other physiological processes. While FCMs can be a powerful aid, for instance, for gaining insights into ec...

The Anthropocene era is expected to bring about significant biodiversity and habitat loss for many species. These geographical changes, whether driven by climatic or anthropogenic factors, are likely to lead to considerable alterations in population size, structure, and genetic diversity. Monitoring natural populations is therefore essential to ass...

This study evaluated the effect of a broiler-specific light spectrum on productive performance corticosterone (fCC) and androgen dehydroepiandrosterone (fDHEA) concentrations in feathers, and glucocorticoid (GCMs) and androgen (AMs) metabolites in droppings of broilers. Two groups of female Ross 308 broilers were reared under white LED (WL, n = 900...

Colour morphs in polymorphic species represent a suite of heritable traits controlled by separate sets of loci, which correspond to alternative peaks in the fitness surfaces. Pleiotropic effects of hormones have been hypothesized to be involved in the maintenance of morphs, but no experiments have been done to test it so far. In this study, we expe...

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responsivity is influenced by early life experience and also modified by the environment an individual experiences as an adult. Because laying hens are transferred from rearing to laying farms at 16–18 weeks of age, they are well suited to study the interaction effect between early (rearing) and adult (...

In this study, gastroscopy was performed twice in 31 two-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses in training. Salivary cortisol (SC) and fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations were determined to measure the stress impact. One gastroscopy was performed at the beginning and one six months later at the end of the horses’ first training season. Accord...

Pig homeostasis is challenged by stressful production practices, like road transportation. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are mediators of reactive homeostasis, and their concentrations are frequently used as a stress indicator. The adrenocortical activity of fattening female and castrated male pigs was monitored over a 5-day longitudinal study. A bi-factor...

Prenatal maternal stress (PMS) is known to shape the phenotype of the first generation offspring (F1) but according to some studies, it could also shape the phenotype of the offspring of the following generations. We previously showed in the Japanese quail that PMS increased the emotional reactivity of F1 offspring in relation to (i) a variation in...

Background Due to the lack of complexity and variety of stimuli, conventional housing conditions of laboratory mice do not allow these animals to fully express their behavioral repertoire, including manipulative and cognitive activities. Therefore, we designed mechanical puzzles, so-called lockboxes, for mice that can be provided in their home cage...

While neurosurgical interventions are frequently used in laboratory mice, refinement efforts to optimize analgesic management based on multimodal approaches appear to be rather limited. Therefore, we compared the efficacy and tolerability of combinations of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug carprofen, a sustained-release formulation of the o...

Steroid hormones, especially glucocorticoids (GCs), are widely used to assess physiological responses to stressors. As steroid hormones are heavily metabolised prior to excretion, it is essential to validate enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for measuring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs). Although problems with unvalidated assays have been raised...

The small apes, gibbons and siamangs, are monogamous species with their social groups comprising of both parents and their offspring. Therefore, the loss of a member may elicit a stress response in the remaining members due to their strong bonds. Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been useful indicators of stress, but distinguishing between acute versus ch...

Animal models are crucial to preclinical oncological research and drug development. Animal experiments must be performed in accordance with the 3R principles of replacement and reduction, if possible, and refinement where these procedures remain crucial. In addition, European Union legislations demand a continuous refinement approach, as well as pr...

Maternal phenotypes can have long-term effects on offspring phenotypes. These maternal effects may begin during gestation, when maternal glucocorticoid (GC) levels may affect foetal GC levels, thereby having an organizational effect on the offspring phenotype. Recent studies have showed that maternal effects may be different between the sexes. Howe...

Background Due to the lack of complexity and variety of stimuli, conventional housing conditions of laboratory mice do not allow these animals to fully express their behavioral repertoire, including manipulative and cognitive activities. Therefore, we designed mechanical puzzles, so-called lockboxes, for mice that can be provided in their home cage...

Immunosenescence corresponds to the progressive decline of immune functions with increasing age. Although it is critical to understand what modulates such a decline, the ecological and physiological drivers of immunosenescence remain poorly understood in the wild. Among them, the level of glucocorticoids (GCs) during early life are good candidates...

Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma continues to be one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. Preclinical studies involving animals rarely include sex as a major biological variable in testing the efficacy of new drugs. In an animal model of pancreatic cancer, we analyzed the impact of sex on the pathological features of the disease and o...

The aim of the current study was to investigate the influence of both intra- and interspecific audiences on dogs' facial expressions and behaviours. Forty-six dogs were exposed to three test conditions in which a food reward, initially available, was denied when in the presence of either a human (Human condition) or a dog audience (Dog condition),...

In seasonal environments, maintaining a constant body temperature poses challenges for endotherms. Cold winters at high latitudes, with limited food availability, create opposing demands on metabolism: upregulation preserves body temperature but depletes energy reserves. Examining endocrine profiles, such as thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3) an...

Novel pressures derived from urbanisation can alter native abitats and ultimately impact wildlife. Coping with such human driven changes might induce shifts in species phenotypic traits, such as physiological responses to anthropogenic stressors. Preadaptation to face those challenges has been suggested to favour settlement and spread of invasive a...

Beside health monitoring, a regular check of dairy heifers’ growth rate is desirable, but it is rarely done since procedures that require restraint and handling can be associated with substantial stress for both animals and farmers. Inexperienced heifers, especially if they are highly responsive to humans, may find restraint and handling potentiall...

Most environments exhibit predictable yearly changes, permitting animals to anticipate them. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is a key physiological pathway that enables animals to cope with such changes. Monitoring glucocorticoid (the end products of the HPA axis) levels in wild animals throughout the year can improve our understandin...

Home cage aggression in group-housed male mice is a major welfare concern and may compromise animal research. Conventional cages prevent flight or retreat from sight, increasing the risk that agonistic encounters will result in injury. Moreover, depending on social rank, mice vary in their phenotype, and these effects seem highly variable and depen...

Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) have gained relevance in ecological studies and population monitoring, allowing non-invasive remote sampling without the need to capture and handle animals. Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) and radioimmunoassays (RIAs) are commonly used for FGM determination. Although these methods should be validated for each spe...

In avian models (quail, Coturnix coturnix; hens, Gallus gallus), individuals cluster in three subgroups associated to three INPs: the Lewis-like (pro-inflammatory polarization), the Fischer-like (anti-inflammatory polarization), and an intermediate INP, most represented in the population. This study assesses changes in individuals physiological con...

Autochthonous breeds of livestock are considered a pivotal genetic resource for agriculture, rural development, and food and nutrition security. In the Italian Alps, local livestock breeds are maintained using the traditional alpine farming system based on vertical transhumance, with the use of alpine pastures from late spring to autumn and indoor...

The forced swim test (FST) is a traditional assay, which has been used for more than 40 years to assess antidepressant effects of novel drug candidates. In recent years, a debate about the test has focused on the assumption that the FST is highly aversive and burdening for the animals because of the earlier anthropomorphic interpretation and design...

Individual recognition (IR) abilities may result from various ecological and naturally selected features of a species. Complex IR mechanisms should develop when the risk of misidentification of a chick is high. For colonial seabirds, the ability to identify their own brood is crucial to ensure parental fitness. Vocalizations seem to be a key compon...

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are mammalian steroid hormones involved in a variety of physiological processes, including metabolism, the immune response, and cardiovascular functions. Due to their link to the physiological stress response, GC measurement is a valuable tool for conservation and welfare assessment in animal populations. GC levels can be meas...

The glycine receptor alpha 2 (GlyRα2) is a ligand-gated ion channel which upon activation induces a chloride conductance. Here, we investigated the role of GlyRα2 in dopamine-stimulated striatal cell activity and behavior. We show that depletion of GlyRα2 enhances dopamine-induced increases in the activity of putative dopamine D1 receptor-expressin...

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with hyperactivity, amenorrhea, and brain atrophy.The underlying pathophysiology is mostly unknown, and new targets for therapeutic interventionsare needed. This study aimed to systematically establish a murine AN model with the parameterextent of starvation, animal age, and length of starvation for functional st...

Environmental fluctuations force animals to adjust glucocorticoids (GCs) secretion and release to current conditions. GCs are a widely used proxy of an individual stress level. While short-term elevation in GCs is arguably beneficial for fitness components, previous studies have documented that the relationship between long-term baseline GCs elevat...

Shelters are stressful environments for domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Evaluating dogs’ welfare is crucial to improve their life condition and to promote a better management of shelters. We aimed at verifying which variables improved welfare in 10 shelter dogs ((hosted in the shelter “Centro cinofilo Caerite” in Bracciano (Rome)) by analysing th...

Pregnant sows from commercial pig farms may experience painful states, such as lameness, an essential indicator in assessing sow welfare. We investigated the effect of lameness during the last third of pregnancy on reproductive performance and placental glucocorticoid concentrations in sows. Periodic locomotion assessments were carried out on two c...

Background: Enrichment of home cages in laboratory experiments offers clear advantages, but has been criticized in some respects. First, there is a lack of definition, which makes methodological uniformity difficult. Second, there is concern that the enrichment of home cages may increase the variance of results in experiments. Here, the influence...

Identifying the factors swaying physiological stress levels in wild animals can help depict how they cope with environmental and social stressors, shedding light on their feeding ecology, behavioral plasticity, and adaptability. Here, we used noninvasive methods to explore the link between glucocorticoid levels and behavior in an endangered neotrop...

Maternal phenotypes can have long-term effects on the offspring phenotype starting at gestation. Proximate mechanisms include foetal hormone levels affected by maternal levels. Recent studies have highlighted that these maternal effects may be different between the sexes. How maternal glucocorticoid (GC) levels relate to foetal levels is, however,...

Androgens may play a key role in shaping the unique reproductive traits of male spinifex hopping mice (Notomys alexis), but little is known about the reproductive endocrinology of this species. Measurement of faecal androgen metabolites (FAMs) offers a non-invasive tool for monitoring testicular activity. Before applying this tool, physiological va...

Chronically heightened stress levels in wildlife species may have detrimental effects on individual life history traits, for example, through the increased likelihood of disease, parasitic infections, and overall reduced fitness. Understanding the drivers of stress may thus have great potential for informing wildlife conservation. Although the role...

Objectives: Computed tomography (CT) imaging is considered relatively safe and is often used in preclinical research to study physiological processes. However, the sum of low-dose radiation, anesthesia, and animal handling might impact animal welfare and physiological parameters. This is particularly relevant for longitudinal studies with repeated...

The use of fecal corticosteroid metabolites (FCMs) has proven to be well suited to evaluate adrenocortical activity, a major component of the stress response, particularly in wildlife. As with any tools, confounding factors and drawbacks must be carefully considered. Among them, sample preservation and storage are of particular importance, as they...

Early maternal deprivation has been shown to disrupt goat kids’ social behaviour and stress-coping strategy, and has long-term effects in other species like cattle. We studied the long-term effects of early maternal deprivation on 18-month-old goats. Seventeen goats were raised together with their dams (DR kids) and other lactating goats and kids,...

Touchscreen-based procedures are increasingly used in experimental animal research. They not only represent a promising approach for translational research, but have also been highlighted as a powerful tool to reduce potential experimenter effects in animal studies.However, to prepare the animals for a touchscreen-based test, an often time-consumin...

Chronic stress has long been hypothesized to play a role in driving population cycles. Christian (1950) hypothesized that high population density results in chronic stress and mass “die-offs” in small mammal populations. Updated variations of this hypothesis propose that chronic stress at high population density may reduce fitness, reproduction, or...

Social species form dominance hierarchies to ensure survival and promote reproductive success. Traditionally studied in males, rodent hierarchies are considered despotic, and dominant social rank results from a history of winning agonistic encounters. By contrast, female hierarchies are thought to be less despotic, and rank is conferred by intrinsi...

Context The assessment of suitable habitat for a species is often evaluated based merely on where the species is most abundant. However, a variety of environmental factors such as temperature, resources and human disturbances might force animals to avoid otherwise high-quality habitats. Additionally, individuals’ capacities to cope with such factor...

Rodent behavior is affected by different environmental conditions. These do not only comprise experimental and housing conditions but also familiarization with the experimenter. However, specific effects on pain-related behavior and chronic pain conditions have not been examined. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of different housing co...

Understanding the drivers of animal population decline is a key focus of conservation biologists. Anthropogenic activities such as hunting have long been established as potentially detrimental to a population's persistence. However, environmental perturbations such as increased temperature variability, exacerbated by climate change, can also have i...

Loss of habitat, urbanisation, climate change and its consequences are anthropogenic pressures that may cause stress in koalas. Non-invasive monitoring of faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) can be utilised to evaluate the impact of stressors. The aim was to determine if the tetrahydrocorticosterone (50c) and cortisol enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) coul...

The objectives were to compare the effects of an intermittent milking schedule with a thrice daily milking schedule during the final week of lactation on the well-being, udder health, milk production, and risk of culling of dairy cows. We hypothesized that cows subjected to an intermittent milking schedule would experience less udder engorgement an...

Domestication has altered dogs’ conspecific social organization compared to their closest, non-domesticated relatives, grey wolves. Wolves live in packs whose survival depends on coordinated behaviour, but dogs rely less on conspecifics, which predicts greater cohesiveness in wolf than dog packs. Endocrine correlates such as oxytocin and glucocorti...

Analysis of glucocorticoid profiles serves as a valuable, multi-faceted tool for insight into the behavior and physiology of wild populations. Recently, the measurement of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FCMs) has exploded in popularity due to its compatibility with noninvasive techniques and remote environments A critical first step is to perfor...

Measurement of fecal cortisol metabolites (FGCM) is a well-established, noninvasive method to assess stress in adult dairy cattle. However, this procedure has not yet been validated for unweaned dairy calves, and it can be expected that the milk proportion of the diet may influence the resulting FGCM concentrations. The aim of this study was theref...

Living in variable and unpredictable environments, organisms face recurrent stressful situations. The endocrine stress response, which includes the secretion of glucocorticoids, helps organisms to cope with these perturbations. Although short-term elevations of glucocorticoid levels are often associated with immediate beneficial consequences for in...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001564.].

Management procedures affect behavioural and physiological stress responses of wild mammals under human care. According to the Reactive Scope Model, normal values are presumed to exist within predictive and reactive ranges. First, stress parameters of zoo-housed adult Tamandua tetradactyla were evaluated in winter and summer (29 days each), determi...

Hygiene management protocols in laboratory mouse husbandries worldwide most commonly employ soiled bedding-exposed sentinel mice to monitor the occurrence of infections in mouse colonies. Using this approach, sentinel mice repeatedly receive a mixture of used bedding, supplied by a variety of cages of a defined hygienic unit for a period of several...

Introduction: The Zurich's Sechseläuten is a traditional festival of the Zurich guilds, in which around 500 horses take part. After a parade through the old town of Zurich, the riders gather at a big square to canter around a burning woodpile topped with an exploding effigy (the «Böögg»). The level of stress experienced by the horses partaking in...

Home cage aggression causes poor welfare in male laboratory mice and reduces data quality. One of the few proven strategies to reduce aggression involves preserving used nesting material at cage change. Volatile organic compounds from the nesting material and several body fluids not only correlate with less home cage aggression, but with more affil...

Evolutionary endocrinology aims to understand how natural selection shapes endocrine systems and the degree to which endocrine systems themselves can induce phenotypic responses to environmental changes. Such responses may be specialized in that they reflect past selection for responsiveness only to those ecological factors that ultimately influenc...

An essential basis for objectively improving the status of animals during in vivo research is the ability to measure the wellbeing of animals in a reliable and scientific manner. Several non-invasive methods such as assessing body weight, burrowing activity, nesting behavior, a distress score and fecal corticosterone metabolites were evaluated in h...