Effect of acute stress on plasma concentrations of sex and stress hormones in juvenile alligators living in control and contaminated lakes
Environmental contaminants can act as stressors, inducing elevated circulating concentrations of stress hormones such as corticosterone and cortisol. Development in contaminated eggs has been reported to modify circulating sex steroid hormone concentrations in alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). We examined plasma concentrations of testosterone (T), estradiol-17β (E2), and corticosterone (B) immediately upon and two hours after capture […]
Rapid suppression of testosterone secretion after capture in male American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis)
All reptiles studied to date show an increase in circulating corticosterone following capture. This rise in corticosterone has also been shown in a number of instances to result in a decline in reproductive steroids within hours after capture. As a result of these observations it has been considered imperative to collect blood samples as soon […]