Serum cortisol and progestin concentrations in pregnant and non-pregnant Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Oliveira, Cláudio Alvarenga de; Felippe, Érika Cristiane Gutierrez; Chelini, Marie-Odile Monier

doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2007.05.009

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Moreover, the serum progestagen concentration profile in our research could indicate that luteal activity was at its highest level in mid-gestation (in order to maintain pregnancy) and then declined to its lowest level from 7 to 2 days prior to calving, which is supported by the serum progesterone concentration profiles of pregnant elephants found in other studies [5, 6, 16, 17, 19,20,21, 24, 25]. The average fecal progestagen concentration in this study was lower than the 5α-P-3OH (major progesterone metabolite in elephant feces) concentration that was found previously [11].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…It was found that the serum cortisol concentration profile was relatively similar to a previous study [17, 20]. Fecal cortisol metabolite concentration levels during pregnancy in our study, however, were lower than the levels in the pregnant African elephants reported previously [9].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…For free-ranging or wild elephants, measurement of fecal steroid metabolites is an especially useful and noninvasive method for monitoring reproductive cyclicity and pregnancy [10, 11]. Serum progesterone concentration during pregnancy in elephants varies from <50 to 2,100 p g/m l , mean values 400 to 600 p g/m l and significantly declines in the 2 to 3 days before parturition [5, 6, 17, 20, 21]. Previous studies have shown that progesterone is not found in significant amounts in the blood circulation of Asian and African elephants ( Loxodonta Africana ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Kajaysri

Nokkaew

2014

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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The study was to find patterns of progestagen (progesterone and its metabolite) and glucocorticoid and their metabolite concentrations in serum and feces of pregnant Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). The 5 female Asian domestic elephants were naturally mated until pregnancy. After that, blood and feces samples were collected monthly during pregnancy for progestagen, glucocorticoid and their metabolites analysis by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The results showed the serum progestagen concentration during gestation was 2.11 ± 0.60 to 18.44 ± 2.28 ng/ml. Overall, serum progestagen concentration rose from the 1st month to reach peak in the 11th month, after which it declined to its lowest level in the 22nd month of pregnancy. Fecal progestagen concentration varied from 1.18 ± 0.54 to 3.35 ± 0.45 µg/g during pregnancy. In general, fecal progestagen concentration increased from the 1st month to its highest level in the 12th month. After this, it declined reaching its lowest point in the 22nd month of pregnancy. Glucocorticoid hormones and their metabolite concentrations both in serum and feces fluctuated from low to medium throughout almost the entire pregnancy period and then rapidly increased around the last week before calving. Our study suggests that this profile of progestagen and glucocorticoid hormones and their metabolite concentration levels in serum and feces can be used to assess the pregnancy status of Asian elephants. If serum and fecal progestagen concentrations were found in very low levels and glucocorticoid and their metabolite concentrations were found in very high levels, it was indicated that the cow elephant would calve within 7 days.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Kajaysri

Nokkaew

2014

The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science

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“…Similarly, Oliveira et al . (23) found that mean cortisol values in Asian elephants were not significantly different between follicular and luteal phases; however, they also reported that cortisol titers were significantly higher in cycling females than in pregnant females. They suggest this difference is due to higher stress in cycling females (caused by increased attention from males), but do not discuss a possible role for cortisol in ovarian function.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Cyclic changes in cortisol across the estrous cycle in parous and nulliparous Asian elephants

Fanson

Keeley

Fanson

2014

Endocrine Connections

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In the context of reproduction, glucocorticoids (GCs) are generally considered to have negative effects. However, in well-studied model species, GCs fluctuate predictability across the estrous cycles, and short-term increases promote healthy ovarian function. Reproductive challenges have plagued captive elephant populations, which are not currently self-sustaining. Efforts to understand reproductive dysfunction in elephants have focused on the suppressive effects of cortisol, but the potential permissive or stimulatory effects of cortisol are unknown. In this study, we provide a detailed examination of cortisol patterns across the estrous cycle in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Time series analysis was used to analyze cortisol and progesterone data for a total of 73 cycles from eight females. We also compared cortisol profiles between females that successfully conceived and females that failed to conceive despite repeated mating attempts. Our results revealed that cortisol fluctuates predictably across the estrous cycle, with a peak during the second half of the follicular phase followed by low levels throughout the luteal phase. Furthermore, this pattern was significantly altered in nulliparous females; cortisol concentrations did not decline during the luteal phase to the same extent as in parous females. This study highlights the complexity of cortisol signaling and suggests future directions for understanding the role of cortisol in reproductive dysfunction.

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“…Like sympathetic responses, HPA responses sometimes have to be treated with caution in welfare research because acute elevations in glucocorticoids can occur during excitement or simple exertion, not just in situations where wellbeing is compromised. Corticosteroid outputs also vary with estrus status in elephants [Oliveira et al, 2008]. A final confound is that, as reviewed in the next section, levels can sometimes fall with severe or early life stress.…”

Section: The Hypothalamic-pituitary Adrenal Axis I: Corticosteroid Lementioning

confidence: 99%

How should the psychological well‐being of zoo elephants be objectively investigated?

2010

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Animal welfare (sometimes termed ''well-being'') is about feelings -states such as ''suffering'' or ''contentment'' that we can infer but cannot measure directly. Welfare indices have been developed from two main sources: studies of suffering humans, and of research animals deliberately subjected to challenges known to affect emotional state. We briefly review the resulting indices here, and discuss how well they are understood for elephants, since objective welfare assessment should play a central role in evidence-based elephant management. We cover behavioral and cognitive responses (approach/avoidance; intention, redirected and displacement activities; vigilance/startle; warning signals; cognitive biases, apathy and depression-like changes; stereotypic behavior); physiological responses (sympathetic responses; corticosteroid output -often assayed noninvasively via urine, feces or even hair; other aspects of HPA function, e.g. adrenal hypertrophy); and the potential negative effects of prolonged stress on reproduction (e.g. reduced gametogenesis; low libido; elevated still-birth rates; poor maternal care) and health (e.g. poor wound-healing; enhanced disease rates; shortened lifespans). The best validated, most used welfare indices for elephants are corticosteroid outputs and stereotypic behavior. Indices suggested as valid, partially validated, and/or validated but not yet applied within zoos include: measures of preference/avoidance; displacement movements; vocal/postural signals of affective (emotional) state; startle/vigilance; apathy; salivary and urinary epinephrine; female acyclity; infant mortality rates; skin/foot infections; cardio-vascular disease; and premature adult death. Potentially useful indices that have not yet attracted any validation work in elephants include: operant responding and place preference tests; intention and vacuum movements; fear/ stress pheromone release; cognitive biases; heart rate, pupil dilation and blood pressure; corticosteroid assay from hair, especially tail-hairs (to access endocrine events up to a year ago); adrenal hypertrophy; male infertility; prolactinemia; and immunological changes. Zoo Biol 29:237-255,

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Serum cortisol and progestin concentrations in pregnant and non-pregnant Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

Cited by 10 publications

References 11 publications

Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Assessment of Pregnancy Status of Asian Elephants <i>(Elephas maximus)</i> by Measurement of Progestagen and Glucocorticoid and Their Metabolite Concentrations in Serum and Feces, Using Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA)

Cyclic changes in cortisol across the estrous cycle in parous and nulliparous Asian elephants

How should the psychological well‐being of zoo elephants be objectively investigated?

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