Anuran gender identification by fecal steroid analysis
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20077.abs This study tested the hypothesis that steroid hormone metabolites can be measured in anuran feces and their concentrations used to identify the sex of adults. Fecal samples from American toads, Bufo americanus, and boreal toads, B. boreas boreas, were extracted using ethyl acetate, and the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone and testosterone metabolites were […]
Reproductive status of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in North American Zoos: The benefits of physiological surveys for strategic planning
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430120107.abs Under the mandate of a Species Survival Plan (SSP), reproductive status was assessed in 128 cheetahs maintained in 18 different institutions in North America. A mobile laboratory research team evaluated cheetahs using anesthesia, serial blood sampling, electroejaculation (males), and laparoscopy (females). Biomaterials were also collected for parallel studies of genetics, nutrition, and health. […]
Seasonal and altitudinal effects on glucocorticoid metabolites in a wild primate (Theropithecus gelada)
Behavioral ecologists are increasingly adopting sophisticated non-invasive methods for measuring glucocorticoids from “excreta” because samples are easy to collect, animals are left undisturbed, and measures may be more reflective of external events than serum samples. Some of the most common predictors for hormone profiles in wild animals are seasonal changes in ecology and behavior. For […]
Chest staining variation as a signal of testosterone levels in male Verreaux’s Sifaka
Male Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) exhibit variation in the staining of chest hair in association with the activity of the sternal gland. Scent-marking behavior and social relationships have been shown to vary with the state of chest staining. Research on other mammals suggests that sternal gland activity is modulated by testosterone. The goal of this […]
Effects of pregnancy on spatial cognition in female Hooded Long-Evans rats
Studies examining the roles of estrogens and progestins on spatial cognition have been highly contradictory. To determine if the hormonal environment of pregnancy affects spatial cognition, pregnant (n = 7) and virgin (n = 7) Hooded Long-Evans rats were tested in a Morris water maze throughout the 3 weeks of pregnancy and the second week postpartum. Latency to platform, […]
Integrative studies of amphibians- from molecules to mating
Studies of reproductive behavior in amphibians have been especially successful in synthesizing data produced from molecular and physiological research with evolutionary parameters, such as measures of reproductive success. In particular, two relatively new areas of amphibian research are highly amenable to synthetic studies. One area is the nature of chemical communication by pheromone delivery in […]
Reproductive role of prolactin
The biological actions of prolactin (PRL), a polypeptide hormone, are mostly related to lactation and reproduction. These actions have been clarified by studies of PRL and PRL-deficient receptor mice, which have a clear phenotype of reproductive failure at multiple sites. This review aims to summarize current knowledge about PRL and its receptor, role in reproductive […]
Differences in Fecal Androgen Patterns of Breeding and Nonbreeding Kori Bustards (Ardeotis kori)
To better understand breeding conditions to promote reproduction in captive kori bustards, fundamental endocrine studies measuring fecal androgen metabolites in male and female kori bustards were conducted. Feces collected weekly from males and females were analyzed for testosterone using enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results from adult males (n = 5), adult females (n = 10), immature males […]
Adolescent sleep patterns in humans and laboratory animals
This article is part of a Special Issue “Puberty and Adolescence”. One of the defining characteristics of adolescence in humans is a large shift in the timing and structure of sleep. Some of these changes are easily observable at the behavioral level, such as a shift in sleep patterns from a relatively morning to a […]