Noninvasive monitoring of female reproductive hormone metabolites in the endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola) |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria;2. Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, Tartu University, Tartu, Estonia;3. Natural Resources Institute Finland, Green Technology, Maaninka, Finland;4. Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia;5. Species Conservation Lab, Tallinn Zoological Gardens, Tallinn, Estonia;1. Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G2W1, Canada;2. Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1225, USA;3. Department of Environmental Biology, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31009, Spain;4. Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna 1210, Austria;1. China Conservation and Research Center of Giant Panda, Key Laboratory of SFGA on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park (CCRCGP), Dujiangyan, Sichuan, 611830, China;2. Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China;3. Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637002, China;4. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Molecular Design and Precise Breeding, College of Life Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528231, China;1. National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, P.O. Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa;2. Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa;3. School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa;4. Genetics Department, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa;1. Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, CP 51, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231, Paris Cedex 05, France;2. Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute of Zoology and Anthropology, Georg-August-University, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany;3. Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA;4. Department of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability, Catawba College, Salisbury, NC, 28144, USA;5. Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60605, USA;6. Association Vahatra, BP 3972, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar;1. Department of Anthropology & Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada;2. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada;3. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4, Canada;4. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada;5. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1210 Vienna, Austria;6. Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada |
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| Abstract: | This study examined the reproductive physiology of female European mink (Mustela lutreola) to augment the available information on estrus, ovulation, and pregnancy with the long-term goal of supporting ex situ breeding management of this highly endangered species. Fecal reproductive hormone metabolites were measured using EIAs for estrogen and 20-oxo-pregnane metabolites. Seasonal hormone profiles were established. A comparison of hormone fluctuations in pregnant and nonpregnant females showed that both estrogen and 20-oxo-pregnane metabolites were significantly elevated during gestation, which is 42 days in length. Delayed implantation or embryonic diapause does not occur in this species. Litter size was correlated with 20-oxo-pregnane levels but not with estrogen concentrations. During lactation, 20-oxo-pregnane metabolite levels remained higher than in nonpregnant females. The breeding season was characterized by peaks in vaginal cornified cells and fecal estrogen metabolite levels. Up to four peaks in estrogen levels were identified and confirmed that European mink are seasonally polyestrous. The results of 20-oxo-pregnane measurements indicated that hCG can be applied to induce ovulation. With the establishment of this noninvasive method, we present a new tool to support population management of this species. |
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| Keywords: | Captive management Species conservation Induced ovulation Estrogen Progesterone metabolite Pregnane |
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