Validation of Blubber Progesterone Concentrations for Pregnancy Determination in Three Dolphin Species and a Porpoise

Trego, Marisa L.; Kellar, Nicholas M.; Danil, Kerri

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0069709

Cited by 51 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…The LOQ achieved with this method is sufficient to measure blubber hormones at concentrations that have been reported from previous research techniques [8–12]. Interestingly, progesterone was quantified only in male biopsy samples, and concentrations in the female samples were low (based upon the LOQ) compared to previously reported values from other delphinids [9, 11]. Previous reports on blubber progesterone in the bottlenose dolphin indicate that they have two-fold (non-pregnant) to six-fold (pregnant) lower concentrations of blubber progesterone as compared to other delphinid species [10].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…The low (non-quantifiable) concentrations of progesterone suggest that the two females sampled were not pregnant. Quantification in pregnant individuals is feasible based upon the LOD and LOQs here and previous measurements on pregnant individuals in the literature [11]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Testosterone concentrations have been used to determine sexual maturity in males and progesterone concentrations have been used to determine pregnancy in wild-ranging dolphins [8–11]. In addition, there is some evidence that blubber cortisol concentrations could be indicative of stress status in dolphins [12, 13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rapid and reliable steroid hormone profiling in Tursiops truncatus blubber using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

et al. 2017

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Monitoring of marine mammal steroid hormone status using matrices alternative to blood is desirable due to the ability to remotely collect samples, which minimizes stress to the animal. However, measurement techniques in alternative matrices such as blubber described to date are limited in the number and types of hormones measured. Therefore, a new method using bead homogenization to QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction, C18 post extraction cleanup and analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and applied to the measurement of hormone suites in bottlenose dolphin blubber. Validations were conducted in blubber from fresh dead stranded bottlenose dolphin. The final method consisting of two LC separations and garnet bead homogenization was tested for extraction efficiencies. Steroids were separated using a biphenyl column for reproductive hormones and C18 column for corticosteroids. Three hormones previously noted in blubber, testosterone, progesterone, and cortisol, were quantified in addition to previously unmeasured androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, and cortisone in a single sample (0.4 g blubber). Extraction efficiencies of all hormones from blubber ranged from 84% to 112% and all RSDs were comparable to those reported using immunoassay methods (< 15%). The method was successfully applied to remote biopsied blubber samples to measure baseline hormone concentrations. Through this method, increased coverage of steroid hormone pathways from a single remotely collected sample potentially enhances the ability to interpret biological phenomena such as reproduction and stress in wild dolphin populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rapid and reliable steroid hormone profiling in Tursiops truncatus blubber using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

et al. 2017

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“…Pregnancy determination was based on progesterone concentration, i.e. the mass of progesterone as a fraction of blubber mass (ng g −1 ), using techniques that have been validated for and implemented across numerous cetacean species including bottlenose dolphins (Mansour et al 2002, Kellar et al 2006, 2013a,b, 2014, Pérez et al 2011, Trego et al 2013. Blubber progesterone concentrations were determined as described previously (Trego et al 2013).…”

Section: Blubber Endocrine Evaluations Of Dart Biopsiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low reproductive success rates of common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the northern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon disaster (2010-2015)

Kellar¹,

Speakman²,

Smith³

et al. 2017

Endang. Species. Res.

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Following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, reproductive success rates in 2 northern Gulf of Mexico (GoM) bottlenose dolphin stocks exposed to oil were evaluated for 4 yr during and after the spill (2010 to 2015) in efforts to assess population-level reproductive health. Pregnancy was determined from either (1) ultrasound examinations of the reproductive tract during capture-release health assessments, or (2) endocrine evaluations of blubber tissue collected from dart biopsies of free-ranging dolphins. Follow-up photo-identification was then used to track the status of pregnant females and any associated neonatal calves for a minimum of 1 yr after the initial pregnancy detection (IPD). For all pregnant females observed following IPD, individuals seen with a calf (reproductive success) and without one (reproductive failure) were recorded. The resulting estimated reproductive success rates for both GoM stocks (19.4%; 7/36) were less than a third of those previously reported in other areas not impacted by the spill (i.e. Sarasota Bay, FL; Indian River Lagoon, FL; and Charleston Harbor, SC) using similar techniques (64.7%; 22/34). We also evaluated the relationships between reproductive success and 13 potential covariates, including stock, ordinal date, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid hormone concentrations, leukocyte count, lung health score, and total body length. Among these, the results only provide strong evidence (Bayes factor > 20) of a relationship between reproductive failure and the total leukocyte count covariate. The high reproductive failure rates measured in both GoM stocks following the DWH oil spill are consistent with mammalian literature that shows a link between petroleum exposure and reproductive abnormalities and failures.

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“…Performance comparisons among some commercial EIA kits on blubber progesterone measurement can be found in Trego et al. ().…”

Section: Biological Matricesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological matrices for sampling free‐ranging cetaceans and the implications of their use for reproductive endocrine monitoring

Mello

Oliveira

2016

Mammal Review

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Monitoring reproductive rates in wild cetaceans is a crucial step towards adequate management of their populations. Their reproductive hormone profiles can be of importance, especially when combined with behavioural or life history monitoring. Sampling biological matrices of wild, free‐ranging cetaceans can be a difficult task. The purposes of this review are: to describe briefly the different methods available for monitoring the reproductive endocrine parameters of wild and captive cetaceans, and to evaluate the feasibility of using various matrices – blood, urine, faeces, saliva, bubbler, muscle, ocular secretions, blow (respiratory vapour), milk, baleen, and earplug materials – to measure sex hormones in free‐ranging cetaceans. We performed a retrospective analysis of the measurement and sample collection methods and the most commonly used matrices for constructing reproductive hormone profiles. The PubMed and Google Scholar data bases were used, and scientific articles and book chapters published from 1980 to the present were considered. In the past, the most commonly used matrix for measuring hormones of free‐ranging cetaceans was blood. This has been changing since studying live whales became more common: researchers have dispensed with using blood samples from dead animals. Matrices such as blow, which can be obtained non‐invasively, and other matrices that can be obtained with minimal invasion, such as blubber, appear to be feasible options for monitoring the hormones of live, free‐ranging cetaceans.

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Validation of Blubber Progesterone Concentrations for Pregnancy Determination in Three Dolphin Species and a Porpoise

Cited by 51 publications

References 17 publications

Rapid and reliable steroid hormone profiling in Tursiops truncatus blubber using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Rapid and reliable steroid hormone profiling in Tursiops truncatus blubber using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Low reproductive success rates of common bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus in the northern Gulf of Mexico following the Deepwater Horizon disaster (2010-2015)

Biological matrices for sampling free‐ranging cetaceans and the implications of their use for reproductive endocrine monitoring

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