Noninvasive monitoring of reproductive function by determination of faecal progestagens and sexual behaviour in a herd of Przewalski mares in a semireserve

The survival of many critical endangered mammal species is often depending on successful captive breeding programmes which include the future option of reintroduction to the wild. Breeding in captivity also demands the application of modern assisted reproductive techniques to ensure maximal biodiversity, but knowledge on reproductive physiology is often limited. Therefore, non-invasive monitoring of urinary and faecal hormones has become an important tool for reproductive management. To exemplify the importance of non-invasive hormone monitoring, we choose the Eurasian lynx as a model for the world's most endangered felid species, the Iberian lynx. We analysed faecal samples of pregnant and pseudo-pregnant female Eurasian lynxes during a 3-year study period. Compared to pre-mating levels faecal progesterone metabolite profiles revealed a tendency towards higher levels in pregnant and pseudo-pregnant females with no difference between both categories. Oestrogen levels raised in both pregnant and pseudo-pregnant females with a tendency to be more elevated and prolonged in pregnant females. Surprisingly both E2 and P4 metabolites were highly correlated (r(2) =0.8131, p < 0.0001) showing a postpartum increase both in pregnant and pseudo-pregnant females. The results from the Eurasian lynx revealed that the measurement of faecal progesterone metabolites led to profiles dissimilar to profiles shown in other felid species, but similar to those from faecal gestagen metabolite analysis in the Iberian lynx. To identify faecal gestagen and oestrogen metabolites a radio-metabolism study was performed. Using the progesterone immunoassay two major progesterone metabolites were detected demonstrating that the assay indeed tracks the relevant metabolites. The oestrogen assay measured authentic 17beta-oestradiol and oestrone, and their conjugates. The analysis of the faecal metabolite composition in samples from early and late pregnancy and lactation particularly revealed a distinct shift in the relation between 17beta-oestradiol and oestrone that changed in favour of oestrone. This might indicate different hormone sources during and after pregnancy (corpus luteum, placenta). We hypothesize, that placental steroid analysis in combination with other highly sophisticated analytical techniques, like liquid chromatography mass spectrometry or urinary relaxin analysis may led to analytical options to confirm pregnancy and to differentiate this from pseudo-pregnancy in lynx species.

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“…2003; Pereira et al. 2006), investigations on reproductive seasonality (Scheibe et al. 1999; Mooring et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non‐invasive Monitoring of Hormones: A Tool to Improve Reproduction in Captive Breeding of the Eurasian Lynx

Dehnhard

Найденко

Frank

et al. 2008

Reprod Domestic Animals

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“…Consequences include native species displacement [1,2], the modification of ecosystem primary functions [3], and yield losses in agricultural production [4]. In different habitats, invasive species have often been cited as superior competitors over native species because of their stronger vegetative growth [5,6], prolific reproduction ability [7], and tolerance to stressful environments [8]. Among these invasive characteristics, a plant's ability to allocate aboveground biomass is the key trait that increases its capacity to capture and utilize more light resources [9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tissue-Specific Transcriptomes in the Secondary Cell Wall Provide an Understanding of Stem Growth Enhancement in Solidago canadensis during Invasion

Zhang,

Tian,

Shi

et al. 2023

Biology

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Invasive plants generally present a significant enhancement in aboveground vegetative growth, which is mainly caused by variation in secondary cell wall (SCW) deposition and vascular tissue development. However, the coordination of the transcriptional regulators of SCW biosynthesis is complex, and a comprehensive regulation map has not yet been clarified at a transcriptional level to explain the invasive mechanism of S. canadensis. Here, RNA sequencing was performed in the phloem and xylem of two typical native (US01) and invasive (CN25) S. canadensis populations with different stem morphologies. A total of 296.14 million high-quality clean reads were generated; 438,605 transcripts and 156,968 unigenes were assembled; and 66,648 and 19,510 differential expression genes (DEGs) were identified in the phloem and xylem, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the SCW transcriptional network was dramatically altered during the successful invasion of S.canadensis. Based on a comprehensive analysis of SCW deposition gene expression profiles, we revealed that the invasive population is dedicated to synthesizing cellulose and reducing lignification, leading to an SCW with high cellulose content and low lignin content. A hypothesis thus has been proposed to explain the enhanced stem growth of S. canadensis through the modification of the SCW composition.

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“…O monitoramento dos metabólitos de esteróides sexuais excretados nas fezes permitiu a caracterização efetiva do ciclo estral, prenhez e padrões sazonais da reprodução de várias espécies de ungulados, equídeos e bovídeos (HINDLE, 1990;BAMBERG et al, 1991;KIRKPATRICK, 1991;HOPPEN et al, 1992;KIRKPATRICK et al, 1992;SCHWARZENBERGER et al, 1993;SCHEIBE, 1999;MORROW et al, 2000;ASA et al, 2001;PICKARD et al, 2001;KALLERT et al, 2002;SCHOENECKER et al, 2004;OSTROWSKI et al, 2005;VERVAECKE;SCHWARZENBERGER, 2006;PEREIRA et al, 2006;MAUGET et al, 2007).…”

Section: 3unclassified

“…13,25±0,94 48,74±10,67 <0,0001 Saliva (pg/pç) 0,27±0,05 1,80±0,59 0,033 O resultado obtido pela técnica de enzimaimunoensaio foi satisfatório e está de acordo com os resultados reportados na literatura em outras espécies animais utilizando o mesmo anticorpo. (SCHEIBE, 1999;GRAHAM et al, 2001;PICKARD et al, 2001;SCHOENECKER, et al, 2004;PEREIRA et al, 2006) . Esse experimento permite sugerir que está técnica analítica quantificou as progestinas nas matrizes fecal e salivar, de forma similar ao obtido pelo RIE.…”

Section: Rie Antesunclassified

Perfil analítico de estrógenos e progestinas em diferentes matrizes biológicas na espécie ovina (Ovis aires)

Furtado¹

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Noninvasive monitoring of reproductive function by determination of faecal progestagens and sexual behaviour in a herd of Przewalski mares in a semireserve

Cited by 5 publications

References 20 publications

Non‐invasive Monitoring of Hormones: A Tool to Improve Reproduction in Captive Breeding of the Eurasian Lynx

Non‐invasive Monitoring of Hormones: A Tool to Improve Reproduction in Captive Breeding of the Eurasian Lynx

Tissue-Specific Transcriptomes in the Secondary Cell Wall Provide an Understanding of Stem Growth Enhancement in Solidago canadensis during Invasion

Perfil analítico de estrógenos e progestinas em diferentes matrizes biológicas na espécie ovina (Ovis aires)

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