Salivary cortisol: a non-invasive measure of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical activity in the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Salivary cortisol is a non-invasive and easy-to-assess measure of the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. Here we report that salivary cortisol determination can be used in squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus) to monitor variations in HPA system activity induced by both housing and experimental conditions. Saliva cortisol assessment has several advantages over blood cortisol analysis such as stress-free frequent sampling, laboratory independence and lower costs. Therefore, this non-invasive measure can be the method of choice in primatological research projects and routine programmes related to the well-being of these laboratory animals.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: