Plasma cortisol distribution in the pig from birth to six weeks of age

Plasma levels of cortisol and percent distribution of cortisol among protein-bound (corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) and albumin) and unbound forms were measured in naturally born/conventionally reared pigs from birth to 6 weeks of age. Total cortisol and percent unbound cortisol were highest in pigs at birth and decreased (p less than 0.01) in a linear fashion over the sampling period. Percent CBG-bound cortisol was lowest on days 3-21 relative to the peak value seen on day 42. However, actual CBG-bound cortisol was not different after day 1. Percent albumin-bound cortisol was highly correlated with percent CBG-bound cortisol (r = -0.90; p less than 0.001). These results suggest that a rapid shift in cortisol distribution from unbound and albumin-bound forms to that which is bound to CBG occurs by approximately day 28 of age in the neonatal pig.