Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus )
The polar bear is an iconic Arctic species, threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution and climate change. Successful reproduction of polar bears depends on a functioning steroid hormone system, which is susceptible to effects of persistent organic pollutants. The present study is the fir...
Published in: | Polar Biology |
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Language: | English |
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2015
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Online Access: | https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/steroid-hormone-profile-in-female-polar-bears-ursus-maritimus(5e65eb8b-0ee8-43fc-ab7f-9937442072cf).html https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3 |
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ftcopenhagenunip:oai:pure.atira.dk:publications/5e65eb8b-0ee8-43fc-ab7f-9937442072cf 2023-05-15T15:11:53+02:00 Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) Gustavson, Lisa Jenssen, Bjorn Munro Bytingsvik, Jenny Styrishave, Bjarne Hansen, Martin Aars, Jon Eggen, Grethe S. Ciesielski, Tomasz M. 2015-08 https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/steroid-hormone-profile-in-female-polar-bears-ursus-maritimus(5e65eb8b-0ee8-43fc-ab7f-9937442072cf).html https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3 eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess Gustavson , L , Jenssen , B M , Bytingsvik , J , Styrishave , B , Hansen , M , Aars , J , Eggen , G S & Ciesielski , T M 2015 , ' Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) ' , Polar Biology , vol. 38 , no. 8 , pp. 1183-1194 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3 Steroid hormones Steroidogenesis Androgens Estrogens Progestagens Polar bears GC-MS/MS Svalbard article 2015 ftcopenhagenunip https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3 2022-02-24T00:21:20Z The polar bear is an iconic Arctic species, threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution and climate change. Successful reproduction of polar bears depends on a functioning steroid hormone system, which is susceptible to effects of persistent organic pollutants. The present study is the first study to report circulating concentrations of nine steroid hormones (i.e., estrogens, androgens and progestagens) in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of age, condition, location and reproductive status on steroid profile in female polar bears. Levels of pregnenolone (PRE), progesterone, androstenedione (AN), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (αE2) and 17β-estradiol (βE2) were quantified in blood (serum) of free-living female polar bears ( n = 15) from Svalbard, Norway, by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Concentrations of androgens, estrogens and progestagens were in the range of 0.02–166, 0.01–1.49 and 0.16–17.1 nmol/L, respectively. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between E1 and DHEA, and a positive correlation between E1 and βE2. Additionally, negative relationships were found between body mass and cholesterol, contour body length and cholesterol, and head length and PRE, while a positive relationship was found between PRE and cholesterol. The steroid profile suggests that AN and the sex steroids are primarily synthesized through the Δ-4 pathway in polar bears, similar to rodents. The large individual variability in steroid levels reported here most likely reflects the differences in reproductive status of the female polar bears during mating season. The steroid data establish reference values of steroid hormones and may be applied in further studies on polar bears endocrine system and anthropogenic threats to polar bear reproduction. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Climate change Polar Biology Svalbard Ursus maritimus University of Copenhagen: Research Arctic Norway Svalbard Polar Biology 38 8 1183 1194 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Copenhagen: Research |
op_collection_id |
ftcopenhagenunip |
language |
English |
topic |
Steroid hormones Steroidogenesis Androgens Estrogens Progestagens Polar bears GC-MS/MS Svalbard |
spellingShingle |
Steroid hormones Steroidogenesis Androgens Estrogens Progestagens Polar bears GC-MS/MS Svalbard Gustavson, Lisa Jenssen, Bjorn Munro Bytingsvik, Jenny Styrishave, Bjarne Hansen, Martin Aars, Jon Eggen, Grethe S. Ciesielski, Tomasz M. Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
topic_facet |
Steroid hormones Steroidogenesis Androgens Estrogens Progestagens Polar bears GC-MS/MS Svalbard |
description |
The polar bear is an iconic Arctic species, threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution and climate change. Successful reproduction of polar bears depends on a functioning steroid hormone system, which is susceptible to effects of persistent organic pollutants. The present study is the first study to report circulating concentrations of nine steroid hormones (i.e., estrogens, androgens and progestagens) in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of age, condition, location and reproductive status on steroid profile in female polar bears. Levels of pregnenolone (PRE), progesterone, androstenedione (AN), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (αE2) and 17β-estradiol (βE2) were quantified in blood (serum) of free-living female polar bears ( n = 15) from Svalbard, Norway, by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Concentrations of androgens, estrogens and progestagens were in the range of 0.02–166, 0.01–1.49 and 0.16–17.1 nmol/L, respectively. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between E1 and DHEA, and a positive correlation between E1 and βE2. Additionally, negative relationships were found between body mass and cholesterol, contour body length and cholesterol, and head length and PRE, while a positive relationship was found between PRE and cholesterol. The steroid profile suggests that AN and the sex steroids are primarily synthesized through the Δ-4 pathway in polar bears, similar to rodents. The large individual variability in steroid levels reported here most likely reflects the differences in reproductive status of the female polar bears during mating season. The steroid data establish reference values of steroid hormones and may be applied in further studies on polar bears endocrine system and anthropogenic threats to polar bear reproduction. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Gustavson, Lisa Jenssen, Bjorn Munro Bytingsvik, Jenny Styrishave, Bjarne Hansen, Martin Aars, Jon Eggen, Grethe S. Ciesielski, Tomasz M. |
author_facet |
Gustavson, Lisa Jenssen, Bjorn Munro Bytingsvik, Jenny Styrishave, Bjarne Hansen, Martin Aars, Jon Eggen, Grethe S. Ciesielski, Tomasz M. |
author_sort |
Gustavson, Lisa |
title |
Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_short |
Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_full |
Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_fullStr |
Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) |
title_sort |
steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( ursus maritimus ) |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://curis.ku.dk/portal/da/publications/steroid-hormone-profile-in-female-polar-bears-ursus-maritimus(5e65eb8b-0ee8-43fc-ab7f-9937442072cf).html https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3 |
geographic |
Arctic Norway Svalbard |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Norway Svalbard |
genre |
Arctic Climate change Polar Biology Svalbard Ursus maritimus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Climate change Polar Biology Svalbard Ursus maritimus |
op_source |
Gustavson , L , Jenssen , B M , Bytingsvik , J , Styrishave , B , Hansen , M , Aars , J , Eggen , G S & Ciesielski , T M 2015 , ' Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) ' , Polar Biology , vol. 38 , no. 8 , pp. 1183-1194 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3 |
container_title |
Polar Biology |
container_volume |
38 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
1183 |
op_container_end_page |
1194 |
_version_ |
1766342672117661696 |