Title

Hormonal Characteristics of Free-Ranging Female Lions (Panthera leo) of the Serengeti Plains and Ngorongoro Crater

Authors

J. L. Brown, National Zoological Park - Washington, D.C.
Mitch E. Bush, National Zoological Park - Washington, D.C.
Craig Packer, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis
A. E. Pusey, University of Minnesota - Minneapolis
S. L. Monfort, National Zoological Park - Washington, D.C.; Conservation and Research Center
Stephen J. O'Brien, National Cancer Institute at FrederickFollow
D. L. Janssen, San Diego Zoological Society
David E. Wildt, National Zoological Park - Washington, D.C.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1993

Publication Title

Journal of Reproduction and Fertility

ISSN

0022-4251

Volume

97

Issue/No.

1

First Page

107

Last Page

114

Abstract

Pituitary responses to gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and prolactin and steroid secretory profiles were examined in two populations of adult, female lions in the Serengeti (one outbred in the Serengeti Plains and one inbred in the Ngorongoro Crater) to determine whether reductions in genetic variability adversely affected endocrine function. GnRH-induced gonadotrophin secretion was also examined after adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) treatment to determine whether acute increases in serum cortisol altered pituitary function. Anaesthetized lions were administered (i) saline i.v. after 10 and 100 min of blood sampling; (ii) saline at 10 min and GnRH (1 μg kg⁻¹ body weight) after 100 min; or (iii) ACTH (3 μg kg⁻¹) at 10 min and GnRH after 100 min of sampling. Basal serum cortisol and basal and GnRH-induced gonadotrophin secretion were similar (P > 0.05) between females of the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Plains. After ACTH, serum cortisol increased two-to threefold over baseline values and the response was unaffected (P > 0.05) by location. ACTH-induced increases in serum cortisol had no effect on subsequent basal or GnRH-stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion. Overall mean serum progesterone concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 5.4 ng ml⁻¹ with the exception of four females (two in the Serengeti and two in the Crater; progesterone range, 18.4–46.5 ng ml⁻¹) that were presumed pregnant (three of these females were observed nursing cubs several weeks later). There were no differences (P > 0.05) between Serengeti and Crater lions in mean serum progesterone, oestradiol or prolactin concentrations, and hormone secretion was not influenced (P > 0.05) by GnRH or ACTH treatment. Although Ngorongoro Crater lions have decreased genetic variability, the reproductive–endocrine system of females appears functionally normal compared with outbred counterparts living in the Serengeti Plains. Furthermore, the acute rise in serum cortisol after ACTH administration in lions fails to alter subsequent GnRH-induced gonadotrophin release, suggesting that short-term changes in adrenal activity do not markedly affect pituitary responsiveness in this species.

Comments

©1993 Journals of Reproduction and Fertility Ltd

Additional Comments

National Science Foundation grant #: 8507087

NSUWorks Citation

Brown, J. L.; Mitch E. Bush; Craig Packer; A. E. Pusey; S. L. Monfort; Stephen J. O'Brien; D. L. Janssen; and David E. Wildt. 1993. "Hormonal Characteristics of Free-Ranging Female Lions (Panthera leo) of the Serengeti Plains and Ngorongoro Crater." Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 97, (1): 107-114. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facarticles/317

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015