Fecal steroid hormones reveal reproductive state in female blue whales sampled in the Gulf of California, Mexico.
Gen Comp Endocrinol
; 261: 127-135, 2018 05 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29476760
ABSTRACT
Steroid hormone assessment using non-invasive sample collection techniques can reveal the reproductive status of aquatic mammals and the physiological mechanisms by which they respond to changes in their environment. A portion of the eastern North Pacific blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) population that seasonally visits the Gulf of California, Mexico has been monitored using photo-identified individuals for over 30â¯years. The whales use the area in winter-early spring for nursing their calves and feeding and it therefore is well suited for fecal sample collection. Using radioimmunoassays in 25 fecal samples collected between 2009 and 2012 to determine reproductive state and stress, we validated three steroid hormones (progesterone, corticosterone and cortisol) in adult female blue whales. Females that were categorized as pregnant had higher mean fecal progesterone metabolite concentrations (1292.6⯱â¯415.6â¯ng·g-1) than resting and lactating females (14.0⯱â¯3.7â¯ng·g-1; 23.0⯱â¯5.4â¯ng·g-1, respectively). Females classified as pregnant also had higher concentrations of corticosterone metabolites (37.5⯱â¯9.9â¯ng·g-1) than resting and lactating females (17.4⯱â¯2.0â¯ng·g-1; 16.8⯱â¯2.8â¯ng·g-1, respectively). In contrast, cortisol metabolite concentrations showed high variability between groups and no significant relationship to reproductive state. We successfully determined preliminary baseline parameters of key steroid hormones by reproductive state in adult female blue whales. The presence of pregnant or with luteal activity and known lactating females confirms that the Gulf of California is an important winter-spring area for the reproductive phase of these blue whales. The baseline corticosterone levels we are developing will be useful for assessing the impact of the increasing coastal development and whale-watching activities on the whales in the Gulf of California.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Reprodução
/
Hormônios Esteroides Gonadais
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Balaenoptera
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Fezes
Limite:
Animals
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Pregnancy
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
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Mexico
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article