Non-invasive detection of candidate pregnancy protein biomarkers in the feces of captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Curry, Erin; Stoops, Monica A.; Roth, Terri L.

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.02.004

Cited by 18 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Our findings were within the range of 300 to 900 proteins in human [ 52 ] and mouse [ 53 ] fecal material as identified using analogous methods. Authors of these publications found variation in the fecal proteome among individuals, akin to our results of differences among cheetahs, as well as those among individual polar bears noted by Curry and colleagues [ 33 ]. Such findings emphasize the importance of evaluating multiple animals in a given species to overcome variance among individuals.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Additionally, it was useful to calculate protein quantification ratios ( Table 2 ) that facilitated distinguishing the proteome between certain reproductive states, for example, especially pregnancy versus control conditions. Furthermore, it was prudent to minimize the potential impact of daily variations in diet by analyzing pooled fecal samples from each individual, a technique also employed in recent polar bear fecal proteomic work [ 33 ]. In the latter study, there were seven protein candidates [ 33 ] over-expressed in the feces of pregnant animals, five of which were present in the cheetah fecal proteome.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the priority is to determine if mated females are actually establishing pregnancy, information perhaps to be gleaned from exploring biomarkers in feces. Increased support for a novel examination of the cheetah fecal proteome was derived from a recent finding that protein separation and identification have been useful to distinguishing pregnancy (from failed pregnancy) in another carnivore, the polar bear ( Ursus maritimus ) [ 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-invasive identification of protein biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

et al. 2017

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Approximately 80% of cheetahs living in typical zoological collections never reproduce. In more than 60% of breedings, the female is confirmed to ovulate, but parturition fails to occur. It is unknown if these non-pregnant intervals of elevated progesterone (deemed luteal phases) are conception failures or a pregnancy terminating in embryonic/fetal loss. There have been recent advances in metabolic profiling and proteome analyses in many species with mass spectrometry used to identify ‘biomarkers’ and mechanisms indicative of specific physiological states (including pregnancy). Here, we hypothesized that protein expression in voided cheetah feces varied depending on pregnancy status. We: 1) identified the expansive protein profile present in fecal material of females; and 2) isolated proteins that may be candidates playing a role in early pregnancy establishment and diagnosis. Five hundred and seventy unique proteins were discovered among samples from pregnant (n = 8), non-pregnant, luteal phase (n = 5), and non-ovulatory control (n = 5) cheetahs. Four protein candidates were isolated that were significantly up-regulated and two were down-regulated in samples from pregnant compared to non-pregnant or control counterparts. One up-regulated candidate, immunoglobulin J chain (IGJ; an important component of the secretory immune system) was detected using a commercially available antibody via immunoblotting. Findings revealed that increased IGJ abundance could be used to detect pregnancy successfully in >80% of 23 assessed females within 4 weeks after mating. The discovery of a novel fecal pregnancy marker improves the ability to determine reproductive, especially gestational, status in cheetahs managed in an ex situ insurance and source population.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-invasive identification of protein biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

et al. 2017

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“…The production of some biomarkers has been shown to be affected by reproductive events, and certain biomarkers have been found to indicate physiological status such as pregnancy in the domestic dog [7] and several wild canid species [8]. Recently, methods have been developed for the identification of fecal biomarkers of pregnancy in the polar bear [9], and another study in the cheetah identified fecal biomarkers with potential roles in early pregnancy establishment using commercially available antibodies [10]. Koester and colleagues identified a novel biomarker immunoglobulin J chain (IgJ), with increased levels in pregnant individuals and were able to distinguish between pregnant and non-pregnant cheetahs in the 4 weeks following breeding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immunoglobulin J chain as a non-invasive indicator of pregnancy in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

et al. 2020

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“…Claws, feces, feathers, breath, hair, vibrissae, photographic identification, and paw prints are being used to increase our knowledge of diet, size, distribution, abundance, sex, genetic makeup, hormonal status, pollution load, and other variables in free-ranging wildlife (Zhao and Schell 2004;Sharma et al 2005;Bianchi et al 2008;Hobson et al 2009;Anderson et al 2010;Dietz et al 2011;Ferreira et al 2011;Bechshoft et al 2012a;Cook 2012;Curry et al 2012;Sawaya et al 2012). Animal samples that can be obtained indirectly, or without interaction between study species and researchers are particularly valuable, especially for species that are sparsely scattered in remote locations where sampling is logistically difficult.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and cortisol in Western Hudson Bay polar bear hair

et al. 2015

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Non-invasive methods of assessing animal health and life history are becoming increasingly popular in wildlife research; hair samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus), are being used to study an ever broader range of anthropogenic and endocrine compounds. A number of contaminants are known to disrupt endocrine function in polar bears. However, the relationship between mercury and cortisol remains unknown, although mercury is an endocrine disruptor in other species. Here, we examine the relationship between concentrations of cortisol and total mercury (THg) analyzed in guard hair from 378 polar bears (184 females, 194 males) sampled in Western Hudson Bay, 2004-2012. The difference in mean cortisol concentration between female (0.8 ± 0.6 pg/mg) and male (0.7 ± 0.5 pg/mg) polar bears bordered on significance (p = 0.054). However, mean mercury concentration was significantly greater (p = 0.009) in females (4.7 ± 1.4 μg/g) than males (4.3 ± 1.2 μg/g). Hair cortisol in males was significantly influenced by mercury, age, and fatness, as well as interactions between mercury and year, mercury and fatness, and year and fatness (all: p < 0.03) (multiple regression analysis, whole model: r(2) = 0.14, F(7,185) = 4.43, p = 0.0001). Fatness was the only significant variable in the multiple regression analysis for females (r(2) = 0.06, F(1,182) = 13.0, p = 0.0004). In conclusion, a significant, but complex, relationship was found between mercury and cortisol concentrations in hair from male, but not female, polar bears.

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Non-invasive detection of candidate pregnancy protein biomarkers in the feces of captive polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Cited by 18 publications

References 31 publications

Non-invasive identification of protein biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Non-invasive identification of protein biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Immunoglobulin J chain as a non-invasive indicator of pregnancy in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

Mercury and cortisol in Western Hudson Bay polar bear hair

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