Plasma Growth Hormone Response to Capture and Venipuncture in Caged Monkeys 1

Abstract

Summary

A large percentage of very high plasma immunoreactive growth hormone values was observed in cage-housed rhesus monkeys after net capture and manual restraint for saphenous venipuncture during about a 5-min period. Following chair restraint, mean values were significantly lower, but individual values were still somewhat variable apparently in relation to saphenous venipuncture alone, as judged by lower and less variable values obtained by means of remote blood sampling through chronic indwelling venous catheters. The present findings suggesting marked plasma growth hormone responses in the monkey to net capture, handling, and venipuncture, occurring within about a 5-min period, add emphasis to the need to consider not only the sensitivity of this endocrine system to psychological influences, but also the rapidity with which psychoendocrine responses may be reflected in growth hormone levels, even within the time of a single venipuncture.