Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>)
The naked mole-rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) occurs in colonies with a distinct dominance hierarchy, including one dominant, breeding female (the queen), 1–3 breeding males, and non-reproductive subordinates of both sexes that are reproductively suppressed while in the colony. To no...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| author | Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle Andre Ganswindt Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt Nicole Hagenah Daniel William Hart Nigel Charles Bennett |
| author_facet | Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle Andre Ganswindt Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt Nicole Hagenah Daniel William Hart Nigel Charles Bennett |
| author_sort | Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The naked mole-rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) occurs in colonies with a distinct dominance hierarchy, including one dominant, breeding female (the queen), 1–3 breeding males, and non-reproductive subordinates of both sexes that are reproductively suppressed while in the colony. To non-invasively evaluate reproductive capacity in the species, we first had to examine the suitability of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for determining progestogen and androgen metabolite concentrations in the naked mole-rat, using urine and faeces. A saline control and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were administered to twelve (six males and six females) naked mole-rats which were previously identified as dispersers and housed singly. The results revealed that urine is possibly not an ideal matrix for progestogen and androgen metabolite quantification in naked mole-rats as no signal was detected in the matrix post GnRH administration. A 5α-Progesterone EIA and an Epiandrosterone EIA were identified as suitable for quantifying faecal progesterone metabolites (fPMs) and faecal androgen metabolites (fAMs) in males and females, respectively. The results suggest that there are individual variations in baseline fPM and fAM concentrations, and only two out of six females and no males exhibited an increase in fPM concentrations greater than 100% (−20% SD) post GnRH administration. Conversely, only four out of six females and three out of six males had an increase in fAM concentrations greater than 100% (−20% SD) following GnRH administration. These results imply that some naked mole-rat individuals have a reduced reproductive capacity even when they are separated from the queen. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:50:34Z |
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| id | doaj.art-66301147df484ba09e38db2e4ea9cde2 |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:50:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-66301147df484ba09e38db2e4ea9cde22023-11-19T13:59:21ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-09-011319303910.3390/ani13193039Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>)Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle0Andre Ganswindt1Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt2Nicole Hagenah3Daniel William Hart4Nigel Charles Bennett5Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaThe naked mole-rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) occurs in colonies with a distinct dominance hierarchy, including one dominant, breeding female (the queen), 1–3 breeding males, and non-reproductive subordinates of both sexes that are reproductively suppressed while in the colony. To non-invasively evaluate reproductive capacity in the species, we first had to examine the suitability of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for determining progestogen and androgen metabolite concentrations in the naked mole-rat, using urine and faeces. A saline control and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were administered to twelve (six males and six females) naked mole-rats which were previously identified as dispersers and housed singly. The results revealed that urine is possibly not an ideal matrix for progestogen and androgen metabolite quantification in naked mole-rats as no signal was detected in the matrix post GnRH administration. A 5α-Progesterone EIA and an Epiandrosterone EIA were identified as suitable for quantifying faecal progesterone metabolites (fPMs) and faecal androgen metabolites (fAMs) in males and females, respectively. The results suggest that there are individual variations in baseline fPM and fAM concentrations, and only two out of six females and no males exhibited an increase in fPM concentrations greater than 100% (−20% SD) post GnRH administration. Conversely, only four out of six females and three out of six males had an increase in fAM concentrations greater than 100% (−20% SD) following GnRH administration. These results imply that some naked mole-rat individuals have a reduced reproductive capacity even when they are separated from the queen.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/19/3039GnRH administrationfaecal androgen metabolitesfaecal progestogen metabolitesurine androgen metabolitesurine progestogen metabolitesAfrican mole-rats |
| spellingShingle | Tshepiso Lesedi Majelantle Andre Ganswindt Stefanie Birgit Ganswindt Nicole Hagenah Daniel William Hart Nigel Charles Bennett Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) Animals GnRH administration faecal androgen metabolites faecal progestogen metabolites urine androgen metabolites urine progestogen metabolites African mole-rats |
| title | Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) |
| title_full | Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) |
| title_short | Non-Invasive Quantification of Faecal and Urine Reproductive Hormone Metabolites in the Naked Mole-Rat (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) |
| title_sort | non invasive quantification of faecal and urine reproductive hormone metabolites in the naked mole rat i heterocephalus glaber i |
| topic | GnRH administration faecal androgen metabolites faecal progestogen metabolites urine androgen metabolites urine progestogen metabolites African mole-rats |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/19/3039 |
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