Validation of techniques to measure reproductive hormones in the urine of female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

Reproductive biology of captive female southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Part 2: oestrous behaviour

“…Therefore, we conclude that a thorough monitoring and evaluation of these behaviours on an individual animal basis may be useful in helping identify reproductive status and that this approach may be more profitable rather than relying on clearly defined behaviours that are contiguous across the population. Our present inability to use urinary oestrogens and LH to define oestrus and ovulation (Swinbourne et al 2017c) or to identify strongly expressed specific reproductive behaviours means that detection of oestrus in this species remains a significant challenge. This phenomenon is further complicated by the fact that male captive SHNW reproductive behaviour (e.g.…”

“…Although the analysis of progesterone metabolites (P4M) in both urine and faeces accurately reflects the longitudinal progesterone profiles of captive females (Paris et al 2002;Hogan et al 2010c;Swinbourne et al 2017c), changes in courtship and mating behaviours have not consistently correlated with changes in reproductive hormones (Hogan et al 2010c). This lack of agreement may be attributed to a range factors, some of which may include females participating in silent oestrus, the female becoming indifferent or habituated to the presence of the male or low levels of libido from the captive male to instigate reproductive behaviours in receptive females (Hogan et al 2010a).…”

Reproductive biology of captive southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Part 1: oestrous cycle characterisation

“…Non-invasive collection methods have proven to be an effective tool for monitoring reproduction in a variety of wildlife species (Monfort 2003;Schwarzenberger 2007;Schwarzenberger and Brown 2013;Kersey and Dehnhard 2014), including marsupial species (Hamilton et al 2000;Matson et al 2008;Ditcham et al 2009;Takahashi et al 2009;Hogan et al 2010aHogan et al , 2010bHogan et al , 2010cHogan et al , 2011Hogan et al , 2012Pollock et al 2010;Lambert et al 2011;Descovich et al 2012aDescovich et al , 2012bKeeley et al 2012;Narayan et al 2012Narayan et al , 2013Du et al 2017;Swinbourne et al 2017b). In the SHNW, the non-invasive collection and analysis of faecal samples has provided helpful (Paris et al 2002;Hogan et al 2010aHogan et al , 2010bHogan et al , 2010c albeit limited information regarding female reproduction based on faecal progesterone metabolites that appear to be stable and readily measured.…”

“…Alternatively, the non-invasive collection and analysis of urine samples has been successfully used to assess reproduction in a variety of eutherian species, such as the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis; Stoops et al 2004), callitrichid monkeys (Saguinus oedipus, Leontopithecus rosalia, Leontopithecus chrysomelas, Callithrix jacchus, Cebuella pygmaea;Ziegler et al 1993), killer whale (Orcinus orca; Robeck et al 2004), the Pacific white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens; Robeck et al 2009) and the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis; Amaral et al 2014). Although research regarding urinary hormone analysis in marsupials is comparatively limited (Matson et al 2008;Takahashi et al 2009;Pollock et al 2010;Du et al 2017Du et al , 2018Swinbourne et al 2017b), the collection and analysis of urine samples for assessing and monitoring reproduction in captive marsupials may prove to be beneficial for their non-invasive reproductive management.…”

The assessment of reproductive function, behaviour and adrenal physiology in captive male southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons)

“…In addition, as it has been suggested that captive management could possibly alter GC secretion pattern in male SHNWs (Chapter 3), it will also be of particular interest to further investigate seasonal changes in cortisol secretion for captive female SHNW. Since previous studies have failed to demonstrate any changes in both faecal and urinary oestrogen metabolites in relation to natural reproductive cycles in female captive SHNWs (Hogan et al 2010b;Swinbourne et al 2017), one could postulate that the altered GC secretion pattern associated with captive environment might be a potential factor leading to this phenomenon; as GCs are able to reduce the responsiveness of ovaries to LH via inducing decreases in ovarian LH receptor number (Negro-Vilar 1993;Wingfield & Sapolsky 2003), altered GC release might affect the oestrogen secretion pattern and result in the performance of irregular or abnormal reproductive cycle in captive female SHNWs.…”