Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Blood samples were collected from a catheter placed in the anterior vena cava of 18 Yorkshire × Hampshire crossbred pigs representing the high U.S.D.A. 1 grade. Blood serotonin levels were negatively and significantly correlated with blood pH and plasma cortisol levels for samples collected before the administration of propranolol and phenoxybenzamine. Also, significantly higher levels of blood serotonin were observed in a litter of stress-susceptible pigs when compared with more stress-resistant animals. Pigs treated with phenoxybenzamine had lower blood pH and serotonin levels after stress than did the controls or propranolol-treated pigs. No significant differences in postmortem M. longissimus pH or color resulted from administration of the a or β receptor cell blocking agents.
Topel et al. (1973) studied this question.