School of Agriculture, Biomedicine & Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia.
School of Agriculture, Biomedicine & Environment, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia; Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia.
Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2024 Dec 1;359:114619. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2024.114619. Epub 2024 Oct 3.
Although bats are the second most species-rich mammalian order, very little is known about their endocrine physiology. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly associated with the stress response, but also modulate vital physiological functions which help animals adapt to their environment. Understanding normal patterns of adrenocortical activity can provide valuable insights into a species' fitness. Non-invasive hormone monitoring via faecal samples provides an integrated measure of adrenocortical activity while minimising stress on the animal but must be properly validated to ensure reliable results. The goal of this study was to validate an enzyme immunoassay for monitoring faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs) in a common Australian insectivorous bat species, the Gould's wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii). We compared the performance of five assays for monitoring changes in FGMs following capture and transfer of C.gouldii from the wild to captivity. Four of the five assays detected a significant increase in FGMs following capture, but the magnitude of the increase and consistency across individuals differed considerably. We selected the UVM-69a assay as the best performing assay to then describe normative patterns of adrenocortical activity in the species. Males had higher FGM levels than females, and juveniles had higher FGM levels than adults. Individuals with poorer body condition had higher FGM levels. We also demonstrate seasonal patterns of FGMs with higher levels in March and April corresponding with reproductive up-regulation and lower levels in May and November. Our study is the first of its kind to examine adrenocortical activity in an Australian insectivorous bat and provides a valuable tool for studying this species. Understanding adrenal function in common species such as C.gouldii can shed light on the physiological mechanisms facilitating survival and success in changing environments.
尽管蝙蝠是第二大物种丰富的哺乳动物目，但对其内分泌生理学知之甚少。糖皮质激素（GCs）通常与应激反应有关，但也调节重要的生理功能，帮助动物适应环境。了解正常的肾上腺皮质活动模式可以为物种的适应性提供有价值的见解。通过粪便样本进行非侵入性激素监测可以提供肾上腺皮质活动的综合测量，同时最大限度地减少对动物的压力，但必须经过适当验证以确保可靠的结果。本研究的目的是验证一种监测常见澳大利亚食虫蝙蝠物种——高氏皱唇蝠（Chalinolobus gouldii）粪便中糖皮质激素代谢物（FGM）的酶联免疫分析（EIA）。我们比较了五种监测 C.gouldii 从野外转移到圈养后 FGM 变化的检测方法的性能。五种检测方法中的四种都检测到了捕获后 FGM 的显著增加，但增加的幅度和个体之间的一致性差异很大。我们选择 UVM-69a 检测法作为表现最佳的检测法，然后描述该物种的正常肾上腺皮质活动模式。雄性的 FGM 水平高于雌性，幼崽的 FGM 水平高于成年个体。身体状况较差的个体的 FGM 水平较高。我们还展示了 FGM 的季节性模式，3 月和 4 月的水平较高，与生殖上调相对应，5 月和 11 月的水平较低。我们的研究首次检查了澳大利亚食虫蝙蝠的肾上腺皮质活性，并为研究该物种提供了有价值的工具。了解像 C.gouldii 这样的常见物种的肾上腺功能可以揭示促进在不断变化的环境中生存和成功的生理机制。
