SERIC LEVELS OF CORTISOL IN BITCHES (Canis familiaris – LINNAEUS, 1758) SUBMITTED TO AESARIAN SECTION

Abstract

Bitches submitted to caesarian section, for being in a physiological different situation, can present alterations to adapt to this new stress condition. Into possible alterations are cortisol levels during per partum period. So, the objectives of this study was to quantify seric cortisol of bitches submitted to caesarian section in partum and postpartum period (in the day of the partum or surgery , 24, 48 hours and 10 days later). The reserved serum was used to realization of cortisol measure by radioimmunoassay (on already described periods). The statistics analyzes were made by t test and Tukey. The cortisol levels presented difference (p< 0.05) in the dog of caesarian section (6.83 µg/dL) but this didn’t differ (p> 0.05) on subsequent days (1.82 µg/dL, 24 hours later; 1.38 µg/dL, 48 hour later; 1.48 µg/dL, 10 days later). The middle values of control group were 3.43, 2.01, 3.59 e 1.72 µg/dL, in partum day, 24 hours later, 48 hours later and 10 days later. The stress because partum dystocic induced to liberation of cortisol, normalizing in subsequent days, but don’t have variation after cesarian (surgical stress don’t induced bigger liberation of cortisol) or partum natural, composed compatible with the one found in the literature.KEY WORDS: Bitches, caesarian section, cortisol.