Hamilton R A, Stanton P G, O'Donnell L, Steele V R, Taggart D A, Temple-Smith P D
Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
Biol Reprod. 2000 Aug;63(2):526-31. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod63.2.526.
Little is known about the reproductive biology of Australia's critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii), largely due to its cryptic nature and the difficulty in accessing the small remaining population of about 70 animals. Using the noninvasive technique of fecal steroid analysis, we have examined the endocrinology of the more common yet closely related southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). The aims of this study were to 1) develop and validate fecal androgen analysis in this species, 2) examine and compare seasonal differences in fecal and plasma androgens in male wombats, and 3) correlate seasonal differences in androgens with changes in male accessory glands (prostate and bulbourethral gland). Fecal androgens were extracted in ether; concentrated; separated by HPLC into testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and 5 alpha-androstane-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (Adiol) fractions; and quantitated by RIA. The concentrations of androgens in fecal pellets from 14 wild southern hairy-nosed wombats as determined by RIA varied over the range 6.6-25.0 ng/g dry weight for T, 4.0-24.2 ng/g dry weight for DHT, and 0-34.8 ng/g dry weight for Adiol. For each androgen, a highly significant linear correlation was observed between plasma and fecal concentrations. When individuals were grouped into either breeding season (pellets collected between August-November) or nonbreeding season (collected between February-April), significant (P < 0.05) differences between seasons were observed for both plasma and fecal T, plasma DHT, and fecal Adiol. For all androgens, the mean fecal and plasma concentrations were higher during the breeding season than the nonbreeding season. A significant (P < 0.001) correlation was observed between fecal T and prostate weight, while DHT and Adiol correlations were nonsignificant. Significant correlations were observed, however, between all three fecal androgens and bulbourethral gland weight. These studies demonstrate that fecal T is a valid indicator of reproductive status in the male southern hairy-nosed wombat, with significant correlations observed between fecal T, plasma T, and prostate and bulbourethral gland weights. These findings have important implications for the study of the reproductive endocrinology of the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat.
对于澳大利亚极度濒危的北毛鼻袋熊（Lasiorhinus krefftii）的生殖生物学，人们了解甚少，这主要是由于其隐秘的习性以及难以接触到仅存的约70只数量稀少的种群。我们运用粪便类固醇分析这种非侵入性技术，研究了更为常见但亲缘关系密切的南毛鼻袋熊（Lasiorhinus latifrons）的内分泌学。本研究的目的是：1）开发并验证该物种粪便雄激素分析方法；2）检测并比较雄性袋熊粪便和血浆雄激素的季节性差异；3）将雄激素的季节性差异与雄性附属腺体（前列腺和尿道球腺）的变化相关联。粪便雄激素用乙醚提取、浓缩，通过高效液相色谱法分离为睾酮（T）、双氢睾酮（DHT）和5α-雄甾烷-3α,17β-二醇（Adiol）组分，并用放射免疫分析法进行定量。放射免疫分析法测定的14只野生南毛鼻袋熊粪便颗粒中雄激素浓度范围为：T为6.6 - 25.0 ng/g干重，DHT为4.0 - 24.2 ng/g干重，Adiol为0 - 34.8 ng/g干重。对于每种雄激素，血浆和粪便浓度之间均观察到高度显著的线性相关性。当个体分为繁殖季节（8月至11月收集的粪便颗粒）或非繁殖季节（2月至4月收集的粪便颗粒）时，血浆和粪便T、血浆DHT以及粪便Adiol在季节之间均观察到显著（P < 0.05）差异。对于所有雄激素，繁殖季节的粪便和血浆平均浓度均高于非繁殖季节。粪便T与前列腺重量之间观察到显著（P < 0.001）相关性，而DHT和Adiol的相关性不显著。然而，所有三种粪便雄激素与尿道球腺重量之间均观察到显著相关性。这些研究表明，粪便T是雄性南毛鼻袋熊生殖状态的有效指标，粪便T、血浆T以及前列腺和尿道球腺重量之间均观察到显著相关性。这些发现对于极度濒危的北毛鼻袋熊生殖内分泌学的研究具有重要意义。
