Salivary cortisol:: A non-invasive measure of hypothalamo-pituitary-adreocortical activity in the squirrel monkey, Saimiri sciureus

Salivary cortisol is a non-invasive and easy-to-assess measure of the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. Here we report that salivary cortisol determination can be used in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) to monitor variations in HPA system activity induced by both housing and experimental conditions. Saliva cortisol assessment has several advantages over blood cortisol analysis such as stress-free frequent sampling, laboratory independence and lower costs. Therefore, this non-invasive measure can be the method of choice in primatological research projects and routine programmes related to the well-being of these laboratory animals.