Urinary androstenedione and luteinizing hormone concentrations during musth in a mature African elephant
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1989 |
Authors: |
John D. Brannian, Frank Griffin, Paul F. Terranova |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services |
Keywords: |
androstenedione, elephant, lh, loxodonta |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430080207.abs Musth has not been well documented in captive African elephants. A 37-year-old African bull elephant in the Kansas City Zoological Park was observed during periods of behavioral musth and non-musth. Androstenedione and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations in urine were measured by radioimmunoassay. Urinary androstenedione and LH levels were significantly higher in musth urine than in non-musth samples. A positive correlation (P > 0.001) existed between urinary LH and androstenedione concentrations. These results indicate that musth can occur in a zoo-maintained African elephant and that urinary androgen levels are elevated during musth, possibly as the result of LH stimulation of testicular steroidogenesis.