Sexual maturity,seasonal estrus,and gestation in female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins Tursiops aduncus inferred from serum reproductive hormones  

作　　者：Peijun ZHANG Zhengzhi WEI Suk-Wai HUI Grant ABEL Paolo MARTELLI Yujiang HAO Songhai LI 

机构地区：[1]Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory,Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Sanya,China [2]University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing,China [3]Ocean Park Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR,China [4]Seattle Aquarium,Seattle,WA,USA [5]Institute of HydrobiologyChinese Academy of Sciences,Wuhan,China

出　　处：《Integrative Zoology》2021年第4期575-585,共11页整合动物学（英文版）

基　　金：This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41806157);the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province(417213);the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

摘　　要：Reproductive hormones in serum concentrations of progesterone,estradiol,and testosterone in female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins(Tursiops aduncus,n=12)housed in Ocean Park Hong Kong were investigated in the present study.Results showed that,onset of puberty of captive Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins was at 5 years while sexual maturity was at 6.Average serum progesterone concentrations in non-pregnant sexually mature individuals was 0.33(0.25–0.97)ng/mL(interquartile),significantly higher than in immature ones 0.26(0.25–0.38)ng/mL.This study found significant difference in serum estradiol concentrations between individuals at the onset of puberty(9.5±1.7 ng/mL,±SD)and not(below detection limit 9 pg/mL).A slightly seasonal breeding pattern,with progesterone values tend to be higher from February to October(0.38[0.25–1.07]ng/mL)was inferred.During pregnancy,serum progesterone concentrations range from 10.54±8.74 ng/mL(indexed month post-conception[IMPC]0)to 25.49±12.06 ng/mL(IMPC 2),and display a bimodal pattern with 2 peaks in early-(25.49±12.06 ng/mL,IMPC 2)and late-pregnancy(21.71±10.25 ng/mL,IMPC 12),respectively.Serum estradiol concentrations can seldom be detected in early-pregnancy and increase constantly in mid-(9.45±1.83 pg/mL)and late-pregnancy(11.88±3.81 pg/mL),with a spike(15.45±6.78 pg/mL)1 month prior to delivery.Serum testosterone concentrations elevate significantly in IMPC 7(0.36±0.10 ng/mL)compared to other months(0.16±0.10 ng/mL)of the year.The present study provides normal concentration profiles for some reproductive hormones in female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins and can contribute to the breeding monitoring of this species.Also,our study would shed further light on the reproductive physiology of small cetaceans.

关 键 词：CETACEAN ESTRADIOL pregnancy PROGESTERONE testosterone 

分 类 号：Q95[生物学—动物学]