Endocrine Related Stress Responses and Muscle Properties of Swine

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Abstract
The heart and respiratory rates of restrained (close confinement in standing position) Poland China and Chester White pigs were compared to their adrenal hormone metabolite excretion (during restraint in metabolism cages), adrenal gland weight, thyroid I−131 uptake, plasma protein-bound I−131, and thyroid gland weight. Pronounced breed or strain differences were noted in the degree to which heart and respiratory rates were related to adrenal hormone excretion and thyroid gland weight. The data indicate that the physiological adjustments made by the Chester White pigs during the stress of restraint may be governed more closely by the endocrine factors studied than those adjustments made by the Poland China pigs. The above described endocrine parameters were compared to muscle responses to electrical stimulation, color-morphology rating, and size (cross sectional area). The data indicate that muscular animals with pale, soft, exudative musculature may have deficiencies in adrenal steroid production and altered thyroid function by comparison to less muscular animals with qualitatively normal muscles.

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