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Understanding the Influence of Early-Life Stressors on Social Interaction, Telomere Length, and Hair Cortisol
Jennifer Vernick1, Chelsea Martin2, William Montelpare3
1Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada.
Insights
Early-life stress in kittens negatively impacts development. Separation from mothers led to higher stress hormones and epigenetic changes, indicating long-term effects on young animals.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Developmental Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- The early postnatal period is crucial for neurodevelopment.
- Early-life stressors can negatively impact development.
- Homeless animal populations offer unique insights into stress effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavioral, physiological, and epigenetic effects of early-life stress in rescued kittens.
- To assess the impact of maternal separation on stress markers and epigenetic changes.
- To explore the relationship between stress, epigenetics, and developmental outcomes in kittens.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 50 rescued kittens.
- Behavioral testing at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age.
- Measurement of hair cortisol concentration and relative telomere length.
Main Results:
- Kitten performance in tests changed significantly with age.
- Kittens separated from their mothers showed higher hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.02).
- Maternally separated kittens exhibited elongated relative telomere lengths (p = 0.04), suggesting epigenetic alterations.
Conclusions:
- Early-life stress, particularly maternal separation, has significant physiological and epigenetic consequences in kittens.
- Relative telomere length may serve as an indicator of epigenetic changes related to early-life stress.
- Further research is warranted to understand the long-term effects of early-life stress and epigenetics across species.
Abstract:
The early postnatal period is a critical neurodevelopmental stage characterized by rapid neural maturation and is adversely affected by early-life stressors. This study explored the behavioural, physiological, and epigenetic consequences of early-life stress in a population of homeless rescue kittens. This longitudinal study included 50 kittens rescued and placed into foster care by the Prince Edward Island Humane Society. They underwent behavioural testing at 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age. Hair cortisol concentration was measured at 8 weeks and served as a physiological marker of the previous 3 months' cumulative stress response, which, for these kittens, included the late gestation period. A blood sample for relative telomere length measurement was taken at 10-12 weeks to estimate epigenetic changes as young kittens. Data were analyzed with respect to age and performance in all repeated measures tests, status as a stray or a surrender, and the presence of the dam in their foster homes. As expected, the performance of kittens in all tests changed over the 5 weeks of testing. Kittens separated from their mothers exhibited significantly higher hair cortisol concentrations (p = 0.02) and elongated relative telomere lengths (p = 0.04). No correlation was found between hair cortisol concentration and relative telomere lengths (p = 0.99). These results support the need for further study on the effects of epigenetics and early-life stress, both in kittens and across species.
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