Hyperprolactinemic African elephant (Loxodonta africana) females exhibit elevated dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin concentrations compared to normal cycling and noncycling, low prolactin elephants†

Prado, Natalia A.; Keady, Mia M.; Oestmann, Alexa; Steinbeiser, Cathleen M.; Brown, Janine L.

doi:10.1093/biolre/ioz036

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…5 ). This suggests there are increases in bacterial relative abundance in hyperprolactinemic elephants that are not associated with lower concentrations of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia categorized as 15 ng/ml or greater) [ 38 , 112 ]. We do not know if bacterial abundance could contribute to the cause of hyperprolactinemia or be a by-product of it.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones associated with gut microbiome structure in African and Asian elephants

et al. 2021

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Background The gut microbiome is important to immune health, metabolism, and hormone regulation. Understanding host–microbiome relationships in captive animals may lead to mediating long term health issues common in captive animals. For instance, zoo managed African elephants (Loxodonta africana) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) experience low reproductive rates, high body condition, and gastrointestinal (GI) issues. We leveraged an extensive collection of fecal samples and health records from the Elephant Welfare Study conducted across North American zoos in 2012 to examine the link between gut microbiota and clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones in captive elephants. We quantified gut microbiomes of 69 African and 48 Asian elephants from across 50 zoos using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene. Results Elephant species differed in microbiome structure, with African elephants having lower bacterial richness and dissimilar bacterial composition from Asian elephants. In both species, bacterial composition was strongly influenced by zoo facility. Bacterial richness was lower in African elephants with recent GI issues, and richness was positively correlated with metabolic hormone total triiodothyronine (total T3) in Asian elephants. We found species-specific associations between gut microbiome composition and hormones: Asian elephant gut microbiome composition was linked to total T3 and free thyroxine (free T4), while fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) were linked to African elephant gut microbiome composition. We identified many relationships between bacterial relative abundances and hormone concentrations, including Prevotella spp., Treponema spp., and Akkermansia spp. Conclusions We present a comprehensive assessment of relationships between the gut microbiome, host species, environment, clinical health issues, and the endocrine system in captive elephants. Our results highlight the combined significance of host species-specific regulation and environmental effects on the gut microbiome between two elephant species and across 50 zoo facilities. We provide evidence of clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones associated with the gut microbiome structure of captive elephants. Our findings establish the groundwork for future studies to investigate bacterial function or develop tools (e.g., prebiotics, probiotics, dietary manipulations) suitable for conservation and zoo management.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones associated with gut microbiome structure in African and Asian elephants

et al. 2021

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“…In females, hormonal problems can also be associated with captive breeding, such as hyperprolactinemia and ovarian acyclicity (reproductive problems): through an analysis of prolactin and serum progestogens, Brown and collaborators (2016) [140] demonstrated that, in 95 females raised in zoo environment, more than half presented acyclicity or irregular cycling; also pointed out that increases in feeding and enrichment diversity and social stability can have a positive impact on the hormonal levels of the species. The hypothesis that oxytocin and serotonin concentrations are increased in non-cycling, hyperprolactinaemic elephants is analysed in Prado and collaborators (2019) [141], where the authors conclude that dopamine synthesis may not be impaired in these elephants and that certain stimulating factors may be behind hyperprolactinemia.…”

Section: The Importance Of Elephant Welfarementioning

confidence: 99%

The African Elephant (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>): Mini-Review of an Endangered Species

Sales¹,

Anastácio²,

Pereira³

2020

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Humankind is responsible for conditioning the distribution of species, including the African elephant. From its great physical form to its fascinating social behaviour, Loxodonta africana can trigger an admiration in some and be undervalued by others, often ending up being a victim of human activities. Increasingly, the apparent impossibility of the coexistence of these two species represents a problem for the conservation of the large African mammal.Here it was reviewed the published bibliography about the African savannah elephant (L. africana), between July 2015 and December 2019. The Web of Science (WoS) database enabled the search for the words "Loxodonta africana". From this research, we obtained 310 articles, 149 of them were analysed.Elephants have characteristics that define its uniqueness that are constantly reported, such as: its cognition and extraordinary memory, factors that influence its movements and its distribution, its specific vocalization and the strong dependence on social connections. Threats to the conservation of the species and the urgency of interventions are also an important subject of discussion. Poaching for ivory represents a major obstacle on conservation and has been drastically reducing the number of elephant populations and causing future consequences for those who thrive. Law enforcement in reducing/prohibit poaching has proven to be insufficient, so there is an urgent need to combat the demand for ivory. Also, it is necessary to bypass the conflict, promote tolerance and enable cohabitation. We believe that educating human populations to better understand the species may be the difference to guarantee a future for the species. Conservationists may be the enablers of these educational actions, however, to make the difference, it is necessary to know the species in detail. Mastering knowledge in these behavioural areas will contribute to improve mitigation strategies, which could make the difference to guarantee a future for the species.

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Stress, Well-Being and Reproductive Success

Edwards

Edes

Brown

2019

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology

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Hyperprolactinemic African elephant (Loxodonta africana) females exhibit elevated dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin concentrations compared to normal cycling and noncycling, low prolactin elephants†

Cited by 11 publications

References 53 publications

Clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones associated with gut microbiome structure in African and Asian elephants

Clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones associated with gut microbiome structure in African and Asian elephants

The African Elephant (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>): Mini-Review of an Endangered Species

Stress, Well-Being and Reproductive Success

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Hyperprolactinemic African elephant (Loxodonta africana) females exhibit elevated dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin concentrations compared to normal cycling and noncycling, low prolactin elephants†

Cited by 11 publications

References 53 publications

Clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones associated with gut microbiome structure in African and Asian elephants

Clinical health issues, reproductive hormones, and metabolic hormones associated with gut microbiome structure in African and Asian elephants

The African Elephant (&lt;i&gt;Loxodonta africana&lt;/i&gt;): Mini-Review of an Endangered Species

Stress, Well-Being and Reproductive Success

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

The African Elephant (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>): Mini-Review of an Endangered Species