Serum testosterone levels during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy in the bonnet monkey (Macaca Radiata).

Abstract

Serum testosterone concentrations have been determined during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy in the bonnet monkey, Macace rediata. During the cycle, there is an increase around the time of ovulation and a secondary peak in the late luteal phase. In pregnancy, there is a distinct peak around 23-25 days, a period which corresponds to the peak of chorionic gonadotropin reported by Atkinson et al. (1975) in Rhesus monkeys. Administration of exogenous hCG causes a significant rise in the serum testosterone level in cycling monkeys.

The impact of unabated stimulation by human chorionic gonadotropin on the steroid hormone environment of pregnant rats and the spontaneous expression of ovarian cysts in female progeny

“…Data points represent the mean ± SEM common problems encountered during treatment of infertility in association with PCOS is the hyperstimulated response of the ovaries to the hormonal treatment regimens used in assisted reproduction programs. The concept that the ovary can respond to hormonal stimuli during pregnancy with either normal or abnormal follicular development is supported by our present observations, the ability of ovaries in pregnant rats to respond to subovulatory doses of hCG with increased follicular and luteal steroidogenic ability [15,16,33,34], the correlation between circulating testosterone concentrations in pregnant Rhesus monkeys with circulating amounts of chorionic gonadotropin [38,39], and the ability of human ovaries to respond to exogenous gonadotropin at least during early pregnancy with ovarian follicular development and even ovulation [40]. On the basis of these observations, and the observation that many women with PCOS possess hyperstimulable ovaries [41], it is conceivable that human ovaries that are ''hyperstimulable'' prior to pregnancy may respond to nine months of tonic exposure to endogenous hCG with inappropriate follicular, luteal and, perhaps even placental steroidogenic profiles that contribute to the etiology of ovarian cysts and possibly PCOS in affected daughters.…”

Hormonal correlates of 'masculinization' in female spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta). 1. Infancy to sexual maturity

“…female brown hyaenas (0-52 ng ml-1: Racey & Skinner, 1979), female dogs (0-030-0-70 ng ml"1: Olson et al, 1984;Concannon & Castracane, 1985), Siberian tigers (0-20-0-70 ng ml" u. Seal et al, 1985), rhesus monkeys (0-20-0-80 ng ml" ': Feder, 1985) and bonnet macaque monkeys (0-40-1-90 ng ml"1: Rao & Kotagi, 1982). Within-species variation in concen¬ trations generally reflects shifts in plasma concentrations of 'testosterone' across the sexual cycle.…”

Brief communication: Fecal androgen excretion and fetal sex effects during gestation in wild assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis)

“…In bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata), for example, serum testosterone concentrations increase during early pregnancy, peak at day 33, and decline to baseline concentrations at day 50 (Rao and Kotagi, 1983). Similarly, in yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) blood concentrations of testosterone and androstenedione increase significantly between days 4 and 20, continue to rise to day 33, an then decline to luteal phase concentrations by day 50 (Castracane and Goldzieher, 1983).…”

“…The mechanisms underlying androgen production during gestation in Assamese macaques are not known, however, elevated androgens during pregnancy in primates are likely to be under regulation of CG, as in several species increasing androgen concentrations coincide with increasing CG concentrations (e.g., Castracane and Goldzieher, 1983;Rao and Kotagi, 1983;French et al, 2010). Also, the sources of origin of the androgens excreted by our pregnant study females remain to be established but it is likely that they are derived from multiple sources, including the ovary, corpus luteum, placenta, and presumably adrenal (e.g., Hodges et al, 1984;Castracane et al, 1998).…”

“…In a number of species, however, pregnancy is also characterized by a distinct increase in maternal androgen production in the early stages of gestation (Callithrix jacchus: Chambers and Hearn, 1979; Rattus sp. : Gibori and Sridaran, 1981;Legrand et al, 1984; Papio cycnocephalus: Castracane and Goldzieher, 1983; Macaca radiata: Rao and Kotagi, 1983; Papio anubis: Hodges et al, 1984;Macaca mulatta: Ellinwood et al, 1989; Homo sapiens: Castracane et al, 1998;Callithrix geoffroyi: French et al, 2010;Smith et al, 2010), which is likely to be under the regulation of chorionic gonadotropin (CG) (e.g., Castracane and Goldzieher, 1983). Since maternal androgens have been shown to have a number of organizational and developmental effects on the embryo and the fetus (e.g., sexual differentiation), and are known to influence postnatal processes like growth, metabolism, and behavior (e.g., Phoenix et al, 1959;Goy et al, 1988;Wallen, 1996Wallen, , 2005Tomaszycki et al, 2001;Wolf et al, 2002;Bruns et al, 2004;Roberts et al, 2009;Thornton et al, 2009;Wallen and Hassett, 2009;Smith et al, 2010), there is increasing interest in characterizing maternal androgen production as a basis for studies on its modifying actions on the morphological, physiological, and behavioral development of offspring.…”