Ancrenaz M, Blanvillain C, Delhomme A, Greth A, Sempéré A J
Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Villiers en Bois, 79360, France.
Gen Comp Endocrinol. 1998 Sep;111(3):283-9. doi: 10.1006/gcen.1998.7100.
To determine the onset of puberty in Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), a longitudinal study was conducted in 5 captive males at the National Wildlife Research Centre, Taif (Saudi Arabia). From birth to 20 months of age, twice weekly, animals were weighed and blood was assayed for LH and testosterone. Four periods were defined by analysis of the hormonal profile. During the first 5 months (corresponding to prepuberty), mean LH concentrations increased significantly while testosterone remained basal. Testosterone increased significantly during the second period (from 6 to 7 months) while LH decreased significantly. The testosterone pattern suggests that the animals reached puberty at around 7 months old. Mean LH concentrations remained at a similar level before and after puberty and increased significantly between the 12th and 13th months of life. This increment correspond to the transition between two further periods. The third period (8-12 months) was characterized by testosterone peaks of 2.4 +/- 0.1 ng ml-1 which irregularly occurred over a period of 26.6 +/- 2.7 days and was followed by a fourth period, during which peaks were seen at 24.1 +/- 1.6-day intervals and reached 4.7 +/- 0.2 ng ml-1. This last period probably corresponds to the mature stage of puberty. The testosterone cyclicity in oryx, coinciding with the estrous cycle length of the female, would permit the male to be fertile throughout the year and could be an adaptive response to the opportunistic and aseasonal reproductive cycle of the female.
为了确定阿拉伯羚羊（Oryx leucoryx）青春期的开始时间，在沙特阿拉伯塔伊夫市的国家野生动物研究中心，对5只圈养雄性阿拉伯羚羊进行了一项纵向研究。从出生到20个月大，每周对动物称重两次，并检测血液中的促黄体生成素（LH）和睾酮水平。通过对激素水平的分析确定了四个阶段。在最初的5个月（相当于青春期前），促黄体生成素的平均浓度显著增加，而睾酮水平保持在基础水平。在第二个阶段（6至7个月），睾酮水平显著增加，而促黄体生成素显著下降。睾酮水平的变化表明，这些动物在大约7个月大时进入青春期。青春期前后促黄体生成素的平均浓度保持在相似水平，在出生后的第12至13个月之间显著增加。这一增加对应于另外两个阶段之间的过渡。第三个阶段（8至12个月）的特征是睾酮峰值为2.4±0.1 ng/ml，在26.6±2.7天的时间内不规则出现，随后进入第四个阶段，在此期间，峰值以24.1±1.6天的间隔出现，达到4.7±0.2 ng/ml。最后一个阶段可能对应于青春期的成熟阶段。羚羊的睾酮周期性与雌性的发情周期长度一致，这将使雄性全年都具有生育能力，并且可能是对雌性机会主义和非季节性繁殖周期的一种适应性反应。
