Quantitative trait loci for magnitude of the plasma cortisol response to confinement in rainbow trout.

Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying interindividual variation in stress responses and their links with production traits is a key issue for sustainable animal breeding. In this study, we searched for quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling the magnitude of the plasma cortisol stress response and compared them to body size traits in five F2 full-sib families issued from two rainbow trout lines divergently selected for high or low post-confinement plasma cortisol level. Approximately 1000 F2 individuals were individually tagged and exposed to two successive acute confinement challenges (1 month interval). Post-stress plasma cortisol concentrations were determined for each fish. A medium density genome scan was carried out (268 markers, overall marker spacing less than 10 cM). QTL detection was performed using qtlmap software, based on an interval mapping method (http://www.inra.fr/qtlmap). Overall, QTL of medium individual effects on cortisol responsiveness (<10% of phenotypic variance) were detected on 18 chromosomes, strongly supporting the hypothesis that control of the trait is polygenic. Although a core array of QTL controlled cortisol concentrations at both challenges, several QTL seemed challenge specific, suggesting that responses to the first and to a subsequent exposure to the confinement stressor are distinct traits sharing only part of their genetic control. Chromosomal location of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) makes it a good potential candidate gene for one of the QTL. Finally, comparison of body size traits QTL (weight, length and body conformation) with cortisol-associated QTL did not support evidence for negative genetic relationships between the two types of traits.

[What is the cost of excision-suture of a skin lesion under local anesthesia? 2-month prospective evaluation in a public sector hospital]. / Combien coûte l'exérèse-suture d'une lésion cutanée sous anesthésie locale? Evaluation prospective sur deux mois en secteur hospitalier public.

The purpose of this study was to assess the cost of a minimal surgical operation: skin surgery under local anesthesia in the outpatients department. A two-month prospective study was carried out on 149 operations, with a mean duration of 33 minutes. The mean cost of the operation was 434 FF. Although this study is very specific and its results cannot be generalized, it gives a method and an order of magnitude. It shows that it is difficult to save money without decreasing the quality of the operation. The price list of the French national health care system, and the price of the surgeon himself are discussed.