Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites: Our successfully established and extensively validated non-invasive techniques to monitor stress hormone metabolites in faecal samples of various species are a useful tool in different research fields, such as ethology, field endocrinology, ecology, animal conservation and animal welfare, and can open new perspectives in biomedical and behavioural sciences (please find a list of our published papers ordered by species here). As we are interested in endocrine rhythms and responses to stress or disturbance, we are collaborating with research groups from all over the world. We are also involved in animal welfare projects. Feel free to contact us if you are interested in a collaboration or if you have further questions. We also offer basic information about non-invasive measurement of steroid hormones (including our detailed laboratory protocol for extraction and EIA – see here) 

Hair cortisol/corticosterone: As a potential long-time parameter of average glucocorticoid concentrations, the measurement of cortisol in hairs (corticosterone in feathers) has attracted much attention. As recent studies from others and our group (Keckeis et al., 2012) suggest also a local glucocorticoid production in the skin, we try to evaluate mechanisms of and possible influences on glucocorticoid (or their metabolites) production in skin appendages. 

Endocrine disruptors: Especially in ruminants high amounts of C19O3-steroids are excreted. Those metabolites can be measured as parameters of glucocorticoid production. However, some are known to act as pheromones and androgens in fish (11-ketotestosterone is an important androgen). We investigate formation and stability of these possible endocrine disruptors, and also evaluate their biological activity in other species, including humans. 

Main Techniques

Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs): We have developed EIAs for various sex and stress steroids and groups of glucocorticoid metabolites 

High Performance Liquid Chromatography 

We are well equipped for large scale analysis (pipetting robot etc..) of steroids measured in various body fluids and excreta. If you are interested in a collaboration, please feel free to contact us (we have also regularly guest who perform the extraction and EIAs in our labs) 

Infrastructure and Equipment

• JANUS Automatic Workstation  

• Automatic plate washer and photometer 

• Integra VIAFLO 96