Kawazu Isao, Kino Masakatsu, Yanagisawa Makio, Maeda Konomi, Nakada Ken, Yamaguchi Yasuhiro, Sawamukai Yutaka
1 Okinawa Churashima Foundation, 888 Ishikawa, Motobu, Okinawa 905-0206, Japan.
Zoolog Sci. 2015 Jan;32(1):114-8. doi: 10.2108/zs140212.
This study reports a viable means of identifying the vitellogenic cycle and limited estrus period in hawksbill turtles for the purposes of developing captive breeding program, based on the combination of blood metabolite parameters (triglyceride, total protein, and calcium levels), feeding status, and ovary condition. Follicle size of two focal captive females showed clear seasonal changes, with major development occurring between March and May (19.0-24.4 mm), and exceeding 25 mm between June and September. Triglyceride, total protein, and calcium levels dropped with follicular development and maintenance (March to October), and then began to rise when follicular retraction occurred from October onwards. The two focal turtles reduced food intake during intensive follicular development (April to May). These findings suggest that blood metabolite parameters and feeding conditions are inferred by the vitellogenic cycle. An additional 10 females exhibiting follicular development were mated with a single male for 7-day period between May and June. Follicle size was measured immediately prior to pairing, and a statistically significant difference in follicle size of 10 females was recorded between the seven failed (20.9 mm) and three successful (23.6 mm) mating events. This indicates follicle development is essential to successful mate and monitoring of vitellogenic cycle may help improve the success rates of captive hawksbill breeding programs.
本研究报告了一种可行的方法，该方法基于血液代谢物参数（甘油三酯、总蛋白和钙水平）、摄食状态和卵巢状况的综合分析，以确定蠵龟的卵黄生成周期和有限的发情期，从而制定圈养繁殖计划。两只作为研究重点的圈养雌性蠵龟的卵泡大小呈现出明显的季节性变化，主要发育阶段发生在3月至5月（卵泡大小为19.0 - 24.4毫米），6月至9月卵泡大小超过25毫米。随着卵泡的发育和维持（3月至10月），甘油三酯、总蛋白和钙水平下降，从10月卵泡开始萎缩时起又开始上升。这两只作为研究重点的蠵龟在卵泡密集发育期间（4月至5月）减少了食物摄入量。这些发现表明，卵黄生成周期可通过血液代谢物参数和摄食状况推断出来。另外10只卵泡正在发育的雌性蠵龟在5月至6月期间与一只雄性蠵龟交配7天。在配对前立即测量卵泡大小，记录到10只雌性蠵龟在7次未成功交配（卵泡大小20.9毫米）和3次成功交配（卵泡大小23.6毫米）事件之间卵泡大小存在统计学上的显著差异。这表明卵泡发育对于成功交配至关重要，监测卵黄生成周期可能有助于提高圈养蠵龟繁殖计划的成功率。
