IMPROVEMENT IN SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR ENDOCRINOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN MARINE MAMMALS

During the last twenty years, the analysis techniques of contaminants and hormones in marine mammals improved significantly. In early years, the amount of samples necessary for the different analyses was very high and consequently the best way to obtain them was sampling during necropsies. In recent years, new analytical techniques made it possible to dramatically reduce the sample amount required, so that now a biopsy of less than one gram of tissue can be enough for the majority of the researches. Also many non-invasive samples such us hair, urines and feces can give information about the endocrinological and toxicological state of animals, reducing at the same time the stress of constraint in live animals and the need of invasive sampling. Among the most exciting improvements is the possibility of sampling and analyzing urine from ice and sand, obtaining the same valuable endocrinological result as from direct urine collection. In toxicology, new extraction techniques allow to treat with microwaves and solvent a small amount of sample, in a short time, for the analysis of heavy metals or organic compounds. Improvements in sampling and analytical techniques allow a better, easier and more continuous monitoring of animals’ welfare and physiology. In this poster, we present the techniques currently used by our research group and provide information about sample size and storage.