Social modulation of pituitary-adrenal responsiveness and individual differences in behavior of young domestic goats

• Published in: Physiology & behavior Vol. 43; no. 4; p. 451
• Main Authors: Lyons, D M, Price, E O, Moberg, G P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1988
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - blood; Animals; Arousal - physiology; Female; Goats - physiology; Handling (Psychology); Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; Male; Social Behavior; Social Environment
• ISSN: 0031-9384
• DOI: 10.1016/0031-9384(88)90119-9

The effects of three variables known to influence pituitary-adrenal activity were examined in kid goats who were accompanied by adult goats in standard goat-human encounters. Serum corticosteroid concentrations in bold kids who characteristically spent above average amounts of time closely interacting with the person were never significantly different from control values. Corticosteroids in timid kids who spent little time near the person depended on the adult goat's behavior toward the person and the nature of the social relationship between the kid and the adult goat. When timid kids were accompanied by adult goats (familiar pen-mates or strangers) who behaved as if they were fearful of the person, their corticosteroids were significantly greater than control values. In contrast, bold pen-mates or bold strangers effectively reduced pituitary-adrenal responsiveness in timid kids. Only mothers unconditionally reduced kid pituitary-adrenal responsiveness and systematically affected kid behavior toward the person. The functioning of behavioral and pituitary-adrenal systems in young goats was influenced by consistent individual differences in responsiveness and the differing capacities of social companions to modulate this responsivity.