Date of Award
8-1985
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology
Abstract
THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON THE BLOOD CALCIUM LEVEL IN THE MALE WHITE RAT (Rattus norvegicus) by Howard Perry Cobb I I I was writ ten as part of the requirements for a Master of Science degree in Biology at the University of Richmond (May, 1985). The present experiment was designed to determine whether parathyroid hormone (PTH) can be considered a "stress" hormone. Parathyroidectomized (PX) male rats (160-200 g) were injected with 10, 20, or 30 USP units of PTH per 100 g body weight and subjected to confinement/UHF stress for a 1.5-h period. Serum calcium levels of these PX groups were compared to sham-operated rats stressed in the same manner. Serum calcium levels of the stressed uninjected PX rats and those injected with 10 USP PTH dropped by 7.7% and 14.7% respectively whereas serum calcium levels of the PX+20 USP PTH dropped only by 3.3%. Serum calcium levels of the PX+30 USP PTH showed an increase similar to the sham-operated rats (5.2% and 7.0% respectively). These findings clearly demonstrate a role for PTH in the stress response.
Recommended Citation
Cobb, Howard Perry, "The effects of stress on the blood calcium level in the male white rat (Rattus norvegicus)" (1985). Master's Theses. 495.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/masters-theses/495