Expression of c-fos-like immunoreactive cells in the adrenal gland following transportation stress in goats

The expressions of c-fos-like immunoreactive (c-fos LI) cells were evaluated following transportation in the caprine adrenal gland. After 1 h of transportation (n = 3), the plasma cortisol concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.01). The peak values recorded were on average about 5 μg/100 ml, which value was nine times higher than that of animals housed normally (controls; n = 3). Although the plasma glucose concentrations increased gradually following transportation, the plasma glucose levels of transported animals (peak value approximately 150 mg/100 ml) did not differ significantly from those of controls (range 57–61 mg/100 ml). An increased c-fos LI cell population was observed in the cortical cells of the zona fasciculata (ZF), zona intermedia (ZI) and zona reticularis (ZR) following transportation. Compared to the control goats, seven times higher populations of c-fos LI cells were recorded in the ZI, and three times higher in the ZF and ZR areas of the adrenal in the transportation-stressed animals. Fewer c-fos LI cells were observed in the zona gromerulosa (ZG) of both the control and transport-stressed goats. Compared to the controls, significantly higher populations of c-fos LI cells were also observed in the epinephrine cell layer (EL) (11.0/0.0064 mm2) and norepinephrine cell layer (NL) (3.25/0.0064 mm2) in the adrenal medulla of the transported animals. These results identified the areas related to transportation stress in the caprine adrenal gland.