Setchell Joanna M, Smith Tessa E, Knapp Leslie A
Evolutionary Anthropology Research Group, Behaviour Ecology and Evolution Research Centre, and Department of Anthropology, Durham University, UK.
Biology, Chester University, Chester, UK.
Physiol Behav. 2015 Aug 1;147:245-54. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.04.051. Epub 2015 May 1.
A comprehensive understanding of the role of androgens in reproduction, behavior and morphology requires the examination of female, as well as male, hormone profiles. However, we know far less about the biological significance of androgens in females than in males. We investigated the relationships between fecal androgen (immunoreactive testosterone) levels and reproductive status, age, dominance rank, fetal sex and a secondary sexual trait (facial color) in semi-free-ranging female mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx), using samples collected from 19 reproductively mature females over 13months. Fecal androgens varied with reproductive status, being highest during gestation. Fecal androgens began to increase at 3months of gestation, and peaked at 5months. This pattern is more similar to that found in a platyrrhine than in other cercopithecine species, suggesting that such patterns are not necessarily phylogenetically constrained. Fecal androgens did not vary systematically with rank, in contrast to the relationship we have reported for male mandrills, and in line with sex differences in how rank is acquired and maintained. Offspring sex was unrelated to fecal androgens, either prior to conception or during gestation, contrasting with studies of other primate species. Mean facial color was positively related to mean fecal androgens across females, reflecting the same relationship in male mandrills. However, the relationship between color and androgens was negative within females. Future studies of the relationship between female androgens and social behavior, reproduction and secondary sexual traits will help to elucidate the factors underlying the similarities and differences found between the sexes and among studies.
要全面理解雄激素在生殖、行为和形态方面的作用，需要同时检测雄性和雌性的激素水平。然而，我们对雄激素在雌性体内的生物学意义的了解远少于雄性。我们研究了半圈养雌性山魈（Mandrillus sphinx）粪便中的雄激素（免疫反应性睾酮）水平与生殖状态、年龄、优势等级、胎儿性别以及第二性征（面部颜色）之间的关系，样本取自19只生殖成熟的雌性山魈，采集时间超过13个月。粪便中的雄激素水平随生殖状态而变化，在妊娠期最高。粪便雄激素水平在妊娠3个月时开始上升，在5个月时达到峰值。这种模式与阔鼻猴的模式更为相似，而与其他猕猴科物种不同，这表明这种模式不一定受系统发育的限制。与我们报道的雄性山魈的情况不同，粪便雄激素水平与等级没有系统性的变化，这与等级获取和维持方式上的性别差异一致。无论在受孕前还是妊娠期，后代性别与粪便雄激素水平均无关联，这与其他灵长类物种的研究结果相反。在所有雌性中，平均面部颜色与平均粪便雄激素水平呈正相关，这与雄性山魈的情况相同。然而，在雌性个体内部，颜色与雄激素之间的关系是负相关的。未来关于雌性雄激素与社会行为、生殖及第二性征之间关系的研究，将有助于阐明在不同性别以及不同研究中发现的异同背后的因素。
