Longitudinal profiles of relaxin and progestagens during pregnancy, pregnancy loss and false pregnancy in the killer whale (Orcinus orca)

Growth, maturity, reproduction, and life expectancy in ex-situ pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens)

Background

Pacific walruses are found in Arctic regions of the Chukchi and Bering Sea where rapid changes in environmental conditions resulting in loss of sea ice are occurring. Therefore, accurate life history data are crucial for species management plans and longitudinal data collected over the lives of individual walruses housed in zoos and aquaria provide otherwise difficult to obtain biological information.

Results

While similar at birth, Gompertz regression curves indicated that males grew faster than females (p < 0.0001) in weight (99 kg vs 57.6 kg/y) and length (26.9 cm vs 26.3 cm/y) with physical differences being detected by age 3 for weight and age 7 for length. Males reached adult weight at 13.5 ± 3.3 y and females by age 12.3 ± 2.3 y. The mean age at first ovulation and at first conception occurred at 8.8 y and 9.6 y. Greater than 75% of all conceptions and calving occurred between February and March and from May to June, respectively. Mean gestation lasted 423 d and false pregnancies lasted at least 169 d with a decrease (p < 0.05) in serum progesterone concentration between false pregnancy and pregnancy occurring within 6 months after ovulation. Based on these results, we estimated embryonic diapause to last from 120 to 139 days, and fetal growth last ~ 284 days. All males older than 8 y had an increase in serum testosterone and body weight that was highest in February and lowest in July. Overall, no differences were observed between male and female survival, with a mean (± SEM) life expectancy of 19.5 ± 1.5 y, respectively. Currently, the oldest male and female captive walruses are 40 and 43 y, respectively.

Conclusions

Data provided herein include details of life history characteristics of zoo and aquaria housed walruses that are useful for wild population recovery models. In particular, results on survivorship and the identification of the most vulnerable period for calf survival can help with model development and suggests that for recovery to occur birthing locations for this species must be protected.

Comparative analysis of steroids in cyclic and pregnant killer whales, beluga whales and bottlenose dolphins by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

There exists a surprising diversity in the physiology and endocrinology of pregnancy among mammals in both the source (luteal/placental) and metabolism of progesterone. To evaluate the possible diversity of steroid metabolism within toothed cetaceans, we investigated 5α-reduced progesterone metabolites and androgens in cyclic (luteal phase) and pregnant captive killer whales, belugas and bottlenose dolphins (n = 5/species) bled longitudinally in early, mid- and late pregnancy (0.16, 0.50 and 0.85 fractions of 535, 464 and 380 gestation days, respectively). Mid-luteal samples were also collected. Serum was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry as previously validated for (among others) progesterone, 20αOH-progesterone (20αOHP), 5α-dihydroprogesterone (DHP), several additional 5α-reduced metabolites and androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione and testosterone). The predominant mid-luteal pregnanes were: progesterone, belugas; progesterone and 20αOHP, dolphins; allopregnanolone (3α-DHP) and progesterone, killer whales. Progesterone was 2-4-fold higher in early pregnancy than mid-luteal samples but decreased thereafter. The predominant metabolite, 3β,20α-dihydroprogesterone (3β,20α-DHP; 40-80 ng/ml) was higher in mid- and late-than early gestation in all 3 species. Concentrations of 20αOHP and 3β,20α-DHP were similar at mid-gestation but 20αOHP declined in late-gestation in killer whales, and 20αOHP was lower than 3β,20α-DHP in belugas and dolphins throughout gestation. Other 5α-reduced metabolites, DHP, 3α-DHP and 20α-DHP, were far lower throughout pregnancy (<10 ng/ml). DHP and 3α-DHP decreased from early to mid-gestation in belugas, but changed little in killer whales and dolphins. These data suggest that progesterone metabolism is relatively conserved among these cetacean species. As in equine pregnancies, 3β,20α-DHP is the major metabolite, increasing at the expense of progesterone as pregnancy progresses. Androstenedione and testosterone also increased detectably in mid- to late-gestation in these species. The tissue source remains unknown, but progesterone metabolism during gestation in these cetaceans is similar to horses and, together with androgens, may be reliable biomarkers of pregnancy.