Glucocorticoids in Eastern Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Abstract

Most of the information available on lagomorph adrenocorticosteroid physiology is from work with Oryctolagus cuniculus. This species is known to secrete corticosterone as the primary glucocorticoid but may be able to produce cortisol under induced stress conditions. Because of a paucity of information from other lagomorph genera, the generalization has emerged that all lagomorphs predominantly secrete corticosterone. In this study cortisol was shown to be the principal glucocorticoid in Sylvilagus floridanus in both stressed and unstressed physiological states, as had previously been established for Lepus americanus.