[Glucocorticosteroid, catecholamine and protein-bound iodine (PBI) plasma levels in swine following electrocutaneous...

Application of electrocutaneous stimuli for short-time excitation of swine, accompanied by high locomotor activity, led in animals weighing between 30 kg and 45 kg to steep rises of catecholamine and glucocorticosteroid plasma concentrations, while little change was recordable from protein-linked iodine. Increase in plasma glucose and RQ in animals with higher rises in plasma-borne catecholamines and glucocorticoids was higher than that in animals with lower catecholamine deflection. Both the results reported in this paper and findings obtained from other studies into swine are likely to suggest major involvement of the sympathico-adrenomedullary system in the buildup of transport stress. Interdependence was found to exist between the intensity of the adrenergic reaction, on the one hand, and rises in plasma glucose and RQ as well as drop of pH, on the other. Those findings from various tests seem to support the conclusion that under conditions of severe excitation and high locomotor activity the differentiated resistance of swine to stress is atributable to different intensities of sympathico-adrenergic reaction of the animal concerned.