Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors
Summary Circulating concentrations of testosterone and its precursor androstenedione, as well as dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA ) and the adrenal hormones cortisol and corticosterone were measured at monthly intervals in 14 male killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) aged 0.8–38 years. Analyses were performe...
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crwiley:10.1111/andr.12254 2024-09-15T18:16:45+00:00 Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors O'Brien, J. K. Steinman, K. J. Fetter, G. A. Robeck, T. R. Society for Economic Anthropology 2016 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/andr.12254 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fandr.12254 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/andr.12254 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Andrology volume 5, issue 1, page 180-190 ISSN 2047-2919 2047-2927 journal-article 2016 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12254 2024-09-05T05:08:57Z Summary Circulating concentrations of testosterone and its precursor androstenedione, as well as dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA ) and the adrenal hormones cortisol and corticosterone were measured at monthly intervals in 14 male killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) aged 0.8–38 years. Analyses were performed for examination of the relationships of age, sexual maturation status ( STATUS ), season, and environmental temperature (monthly air ambient temperature, A‐ TEMP ) with hormone production using a mixed effects linear regression model with animal ID as the random variable. Hormone profiles, derived from enzyme immunoassay procedures validated herein, established that simultaneous up‐regulation of androstenedione and testosterone production occurs at puberty, when males are aged 8–12 years. Androgen (testosterone and androstenedione) production in pubertal and adult males was influenced by season, with highest ( p < 0.01) concentrations observed in spring and summer months. A significant effect of STATUS and season on DHEA production was also documented, with higher ( p < 0.05) concentrations in pubertal and adult males compared to juvenile males, and higher ( p < 0.05) concentrations in the months of summer than the fall. Among adult males (≥13 years), those classified as aged (≥31 years) had concentrations of testosterone and both glucocorticoids that were lower ( p < 0.05), and those of androstenedione that were higher ( p < 0.05) than their younger counterparts. The cortisol:corticosterone ratio for adult males was 7 : 1, and both glucocorticoids were affected by STATUS ( p < 0.05), but not season or A‐ TEMP . Results of this research enhance our understanding of reproductive and adrenocortical function in healthy male killer whales and provide baseline profiles of hormone production for use in the species’ health assessment and conservation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Killer Whale Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale Wiley Online Library Andrology 5 1 180 190 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Summary Circulating concentrations of testosterone and its precursor androstenedione, as well as dehydroepiandrosterone ( DHEA ) and the adrenal hormones cortisol and corticosterone were measured at monthly intervals in 14 male killer whales ( Orcinus orca ) aged 0.8–38 years. Analyses were performed for examination of the relationships of age, sexual maturation status ( STATUS ), season, and environmental temperature (monthly air ambient temperature, A‐ TEMP ) with hormone production using a mixed effects linear regression model with animal ID as the random variable. Hormone profiles, derived from enzyme immunoassay procedures validated herein, established that simultaneous up‐regulation of androstenedione and testosterone production occurs at puberty, when males are aged 8–12 years. Androgen (testosterone and androstenedione) production in pubertal and adult males was influenced by season, with highest ( p < 0.01) concentrations observed in spring and summer months. A significant effect of STATUS and season on DHEA production was also documented, with higher ( p < 0.05) concentrations in pubertal and adult males compared to juvenile males, and higher ( p < 0.05) concentrations in the months of summer than the fall. Among adult males (≥13 years), those classified as aged (≥31 years) had concentrations of testosterone and both glucocorticoids that were lower ( p < 0.05), and those of androstenedione that were higher ( p < 0.05) than their younger counterparts. The cortisol:corticosterone ratio for adult males was 7 : 1, and both glucocorticoids were affected by STATUS ( p < 0.05), but not season or A‐ TEMP . Results of this research enhance our understanding of reproductive and adrenocortical function in healthy male killer whales and provide baseline profiles of hormone production for use in the species’ health assessment and conservation. |
author2 |
Society for Economic Anthropology |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
O'Brien, J. K. Steinman, K. J. Fetter, G. A. Robeck, T. R. |
spellingShingle |
O'Brien, J. K. Steinman, K. J. Fetter, G. A. Robeck, T. R. Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors |
author_facet |
O'Brien, J. K. Steinman, K. J. Fetter, G. A. Robeck, T. R. |
author_sort |
O'Brien, J. K. |
title |
Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors |
title_short |
Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors |
title_full |
Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors |
title_fullStr |
Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors |
title_full_unstemmed |
Androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( Orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors |
title_sort |
androgen and glucocorticoid production in the male killer whale ( orcinus orca): influence of age, maturity, and environmental factors |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/andr.12254 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fandr.12254 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/andr.12254 |
genre |
Killer Whale Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale |
genre_facet |
Killer Whale Orca Orcinus orca Killer whale |
op_source |
Andrology volume 5, issue 1, page 180-190 ISSN 2047-2919 2047-2927 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12254 |
container_title |
Andrology |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
180 |
op_container_end_page |
190 |
_version_ |
1810454748476735488 |