NEW APPROACH TO STRESS RESEARCH IN PHOCIDS—POTENTIAL OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND CORTISOL/DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE RATIO AS MARKERS FOR STRESS IN HARBOR SEALS (<i>PHOCA VITULINA</i>) AND GRAY SEALS (<i>HALICHOERUS GRYPUS</i>)

Gundlach, Neele Hendrika; Schmicke, Marion; Ludes‐Wehrmeister, Eva; Ulrich, Sophia Arlena; Araujo, Marcelo Gil; Siebert, Ursula

doi:10.1638/2017-0191.1

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Although observed in other species, the potential role of DHEA as stress marker is not yet well understood in marine mammals ( O'Brien et al . 2017 ; Gundlach et al . 2018 ; McCormley et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring and validating concentrations of steroid hormones in the skin of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Bechshøft

Wright

Styrishave

et al. 2020

Conservation Physiology

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A previously published analytical method demonstrated the quantification of the hormone cortisol in cetacean skin. However, little is known about the transfer of hormones between blood and skin. Recognizing that such information is essential to effectively using skin samples within marine mammal stress research, the primary goals of this study were to (i) expand on the number of steroid hormones proved quantifiable in the cetacean skin matrix and (ii) validate the use of cetacean skin as a matrix for measuring stress-related hormones. Five adult bottlenose dolphins were subjected to an out of water stress test. Non-invasive sloughed skin samples were collected from each dolphin: once ~3 and once ~1 week prior to the stress test; at the time of the stress test; and twice weekly for 11 to 17 weeks subsequent to the stress test. LCMS/MS analysis of the samples recovered consistent data on three corticosteroids (cortisol, aldosterone, corticosterone), two androgens (testosterone, DHEA) and one progestagen (progesterone). A range of other hormones were also quantifiable, although not consistently so across samples. Results demonstrated that the hormonal response to an acute stressor could be detected in skin: the time from stress test to skin cortisol peak was an average of 46 days, whereas it was 55 days for corticosterone and 47 days for aldosterone. Results also showed that baseline hormonal concentrations were obtainable from skin samples collected during or immediately after the animals were subjected to the acute stressor. This study further develops and validates a non-invasive method for measuring cortisol and other hormones related to stress, health, and reproduction in the skin of cetaceans, potentially supporting investigations of acute and chronic stress, such as cetacean endocrine responses to distinct (e.g. naval sonar exposure) or prolonged stressors (e.g. shipping noise).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring and validating concentrations of steroid hormones in the skin of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Bechshøft

Wright

Styrishave

et al. 2020

Conservation Physiology

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“…This highlights that the gonads are the major source of DHEA in the giant panda, in-keeping with species such as rats (Belanger et al 1989;Belanger et al 1990;van Weeren et al 1992), guinea pigs (Rivarola et al 1968Belanger et al 1989), rabbits (Cutler et al 1978;Schiebinger et al 1981), dogs (Cutler et al 1978;Schiebinger et al 1981;Mongillo et al 2014) and cattle (Marinelli et al 2007). This is in contrast to species such as humans (Labrie et al 2005), primates (western lowland gorillas (Edes, 2017)), chimpanzees (Seraphin et al 2008;Blevins et al 2013), bonobos (Behringer et al 2012), macaques (Muehlenbein et al 2002), red squirrels (Boonstra et al 2008), American martens (Boonstra et al 2018) and both Gray and Harbor seals (Gundlach et al 2018) which have a primarily adrenal source for DHEA. Other Ursid species have not had the source of their DHEA investigated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The novel use of urinary androgens to optimise detection of the fertile window in giant pandas

Wilson

Valentine³

et al. 2022

Reproduction and Fertility

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Giant pandas are monoestrus seasonal breeders, with the breeding season typically occurring in the Spring. Successful fertilisation is followed by an embryonic diapause, of variable length, with birth in the late Summer/Autumn. There is a need for additional understanding of giant panda reproductive physiology, and the development of enhanced biomarkers for impending proestrus and peak fertility. We aimed to determine the utility of non-invasive androgen measurements in the detection of both proestrus and estrus. Urine from 20 cycles (-40 days to +10 days from peak estrus) from five female giant pandas was analysed for estrogen, progestogens and androgens (via testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) assays), and hormone concentrations were corrected against USpG. Across proestrus, estrogens increased while progestogens and androgens decreased – at the point of entry into proestrus, androgens (as detected by the testosterone assay) decreased prior to progestogens and gave four days advanced warning of proestrus. At the time of peak estrus, androgens (as detected by the DHEA assay) were significantly increased at the time of the decrease in estrogen metabolites from peak, acting as an alternative confirmatory indicator of the fertile window. This novel finding allows for enlargement of the preparative window for captive breeding and facilitates panda management within breeding programmes. Androgens allow an enhanced monitoring of giant panda estrus, not only advancing the warning of impending proestrus, but also prospectively identifying peak fertility.

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“…As a result, Almeida and colleagues [ 20 ] suggested that the cortisol:DHEA ratio may serve as a biomarker of inflammatory foot lesions. Similarly, in a study of seals (harbor and gray), wild seals suffering from disease had lower serum DHEA concentrations and higher cortisol:DHEA ratios than both healthy wild seals and zoo-living seals [ 24 ]. Because serum cortisol did not differ between the wild healthy seals and wild diseased seals, the authors suggest that the cortisol:DHEA ratio may better reflect the functionality of the HPA axis.…”

Section: Glucocorticoid:dhea Ratiomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this review article, we provide an overview of the HPA axis, describe the primary actions of glucocorticoids and DHEA(S), discuss the pathophysiological effects of HPA dysfunction, and consider how the ratio of glucocorticoids to DHEA(S) may be applied to animal welfare research. However, we should note that while the cortisol:DHEA(S) ratio has been employed in studies of human development, psychology and immunology, there has been relatively little research on how this ratio may provide insight into the physical, mental and emotional health of non-human animals [ 15 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Therefore, we will explore the benefits of integrating this biomarker into animal welfare monitoring schemes and discuss potential methods for applying this metric in managed care settings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond Glucocorticoids: Integrating Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) into Animal Welfare Research

Whitham

Bryant

Miller

2020

Animals

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Animal welfare researchers are committed to identifying novel measures for enhancing the quality of life of individual animals. Recently, welfare scientists have emphasized the need for tracking multiple indicators of an animal’s behavioral, emotional and mental health. Researchers are currently focused on integrating non-invasive physiological biomarkers to gain insight into an individual’s welfare status. Most commonly, the animal welfare community has analyzed glucocorticoid hormones and their metabolites as a measure of stress. While glucocorticoids provide valuable information about hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, there are limitations to utilizing these hormones as the sole measure of long-term stress and welfare. Other biomarkers, such as dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate ester—collectively referred to as DHEA(S)—help provide a more complete picture of HPA activity. DHEA(S) counteracts the effects glucocorticoids by having anti-aging, immune-enhancing and neuroprotective properties. Recent studies have examined the ratio of glucocorticoids to DHEA(S) as a way to better understand how the HPA axis is functioning. There is evidence that this ratio serves as an indicator of immune function, mental health, cognitive performance and overall welfare. We review studies that employed the glucocorticoid:DHEA(S) ratio, outline methodological considerations and discuss how researchers can integrate glucocorticoids, DHEA(S) and the glucocorticoid:DHEA(S) ratio into welfare assessments.

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NEW APPROACH TO STRESS RESEARCH IN PHOCIDS—POTENTIAL OF DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE AND CORTISOL/DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE RATIO AS MARKERS FOR STRESS IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA) AND GRAY SEALS (HALICHOERUS GRYPUS)

Cited by 12 publications

References 26 publications

Measuring and validating concentrations of steroid hormones in the skin of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Measuring and validating concentrations of steroid hormones in the skin of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

The novel use of urinary androgens to optimise detection of the fertile window in giant pandas

Beyond Glucocorticoids: Integrating Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) into Animal Welfare Research

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