Influence of restraint and ketamine anesthesia on adrenal steroids, progesterone, and gonadotropins in rhesus monkeys (1984)

Fuller, G. B., Hobson, W. C., Reyes, F. I. et al.

Abstract

Determination of basal circulating hormone levels in nonhuman primates presents a problem since handling or restraint of the animal for venipuncture may introduce sufficient stress to change hormonal secretion. ...Each bleeding was made in conscious [female] monkeys after restraining the animal for 2 to 4 min with the squeeze mechanism of the [home] cage. The arm was manipulated through an opening in the cage mesh and the blood sample taken. Serum cortisol concentrations and adrenal androgens significantly increased from the initial bleeding to the second bleeding after 30 minutes. Ketamine does not modify the stress-induced increase of either cortisol or adrenal androgens.