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Borries C, Lu A, Ossi-Lupo K, Koenig A. Timing of conceptions in Phayre's leaf monkeys: Energy and phytochemical intake. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2024; 183:e24881. [PMID: 38018374 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.24881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Raising offspring imposes energetic costs, especially for female mammals. Consequently, seasons favoring high energy intake and sustained positive energy balance often result in a conception peak. Factors that may weaken this coordinated effect include premature offspring loss and adolescent subfertility. Furthermore, seasonal ingestion of phytochemicals may facilitate conception peaks. We examined these factors and potential benefits of a conception peak (infant survival and interbirth interval) in Phayre's leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus phayrei crepusculus). MATERIALS AND METHODS Data were collected at Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand (78 conceptions). We estimated periods of high energy intake based on fruit and young leaf feeding and via monthly energy intake rates. Phytochemical intake was based on fecal progestin. We examined seasonality (circular statistics and cox proportional hazard models) and compared consequences of timing (infant survival and interbirth intervals, t-test, and Fisher exact test). RESULTS Conceptions occurred in all months but peaked from May to August. This peak coincided with high fecal progestin rather than presumed positive energy balance. Primipara conceived significantly later than multipara. Neither infant survival nor interbirth intervals were related to the timing of conception. DISCUSSION Periods of high energy intake may not exist and would not explain the conception peak in this population. However, the presumed high intake of phytochemicals was tightly linked to the conception peak. Timing conceptions to the peak season did not provide benefits, suggesting that the clustering of conceptions may be a mere by-product of phytochemical intake. To confirm this conclusion, seasonal changes in phytochemical intake and hormone levels need to be studied more directly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Borries
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Amy Lu
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Kerry Ossi-Lupo
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Andreas Koenig
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA
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2
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Windley HR, Starrs D, Stalenberg E, Rothman JM, Ganzhorn JU, Foley WJ. Plant secondary metabolites and primate food choices: A meta-analysis and future directions. Am J Primatol 2022; 84:e23397. [PMID: 35700311 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The role of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) in shaping the feeding decisions, habitat suitability, and reproductive success of herbivorous mammals has been a major theme in ecology for decades. Although primatologists were among the first to test these ideas, studies of PSMs in the feeding ecology of non-human primates have lagged in recent years, leading to a recent call for primatologists to reconnect with phytochemists to advance our understanding of the primate nutrition. To further this case, we present a formal meta-analysis of diet choice in response to PSMs based on field studies on wild primates. Our analysis of 155 measurements of primate feeding response to PSMs is drawn from 53 studies across 43 primate species which focussed primarily on the effect of three classes of PSMs tannins, phenolics, and alkaloids. We found a small but significant effect of PSMs on the diet choice of wild primates, which was largely driven by the finding that colobine primates showed a moderate aversion to condensed tannins. Conversely, there was no evidence that PSMs had a significant deterrent effect on food choices of non-colobine primates when all were combined into a single group. Furthermore, within the colobine primates, no other PSMs influenced feeding choices and we found no evidence that foregut anatomy significantly affected food choice with respect to PSMs. We suggest that methodological improvements related to experimental approaches and the adoption of new techniques including metabolomics are needed to advance our understanding of primate diet choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah R Windley
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Wildlife Ecology Laboratory, Department of Wildlife Biology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Danswell Starrs
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Eleanor Stalenberg
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Hawkesbury Institute of the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jessica M Rothman
- Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, and New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Joerg U Ganzhorn
- Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - William J Foley
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Animal Ecology and Conservation, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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3
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Mallott EK, Borries C, Koenig A, Amato KR, Lu A. Reproductive hormones mediate changes in the gut microbiome during pregnancy and lactation in Phayre's leaf monkeys. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9961. [PMID: 32561791 PMCID: PMC7305161 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66865-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies in multiple host species have shown that gut microbial diversity and composition change during pregnancy and lactation. However, the specific mechanisms underlying these shifts are not well understood. Here, we use longitudinal data from wild Phayre's leaf monkeys to test the hypothesis that fluctuations in reproductive hormone concentrations contribute to gut microbial shifts during pregnancy. We described the microbial taxonomic composition of 91 fecal samples from 15 females (n = 16 cycling, n = 36 pregnant, n = 39 lactating) using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and assessed whether the resulting data were better explained by overall reproductive stage or by fecal estrogen (fE) and progesterone (fP) concentrations. Our results indicate that while overall reproductive stage affected gut microbiome composition, the observed patterns were driven by reproductive hormones. Females had lower gut microbial diversity during pregnancy and fP concentrations were negatively correlated with diversity. Additionally, fP concentrations predicted both unweighted and weighted UniFrac distances, while reproductive state only predicted unweighted UniFrac distances. Seasonality (rainfall and periods of phytoprogestin consumption) additionally influenced gut microbial diversity and composition. Our results indicate that reproductive hormones, specifically progestagens, contribute to the shifts in the gut microbiome during pregnancy and lactation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carola Borries
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Andreas Koenig
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Katherine R Amato
- Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Amy Lu
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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4
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Feder JA, Lu A, Koenig A, Borries C. The costs of competition: injury patterns in 2 Asian colobine monkeys. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aggression rarely escalates to physical conflict because doing so puts individuals at risk of injury. Escalation only pays off when the potential benefits outweigh the potential costs, that is, when resources critical to fitness are at stake. Here, we investigated the occurrence of injury in 2 Asian colobine species: Nepal gray langurs (Semnopithecus schistaceus) and Phayre’s leaf monkeys (Trachypithecus phayrei crepusculus). In both species, younger individuals are higher-ranking and might have greater incentive to fight. However, Nepal gray langurs have a strict breeding season, which may magnify male mating competition, and Phayre’s leaf monkeys, unlike Nepal gray langurs, have female-biased dispersal, which may increase female injury risk during subadulthood. Using long-term data on observed injuries (Nepal gray langurs: n = 208; Phayre’s leaf monkeys: n = 225), we modeled the monthly occurrence of injury (Y/N) and found that males received more injuries than females in both species. Also, subadults generally experienced frequent injury, as young individuals likely face challenges when competing for group membership and/or establishing rank. In Nepal gray langurs, males received 3 times more injuries during the mating season, suggesting strong competition for mates during this period, and females experienced more injuries before conception, suggesting competition to meet the nutritional requirements for reproduction. Unexpectedly, females in smaller groups received more injuries in Nepal gray langurs. Overall, these results indicate that injuries are most likely when fighting may aid in establishing group membership, achieving high rank, and reproducing. Future research should investigate the influence of injuries on fitness outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Feder
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Amy Lu
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Andreas Koenig
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Carola Borries
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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5
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Liu H, Zhang C, Liu Y, Duan H. Total flavonoid contents in bamboo diets and reproductive hormones in captive pandas: exploring the potential effects on the female giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca). CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coy068. [PMID: 30997106 PMCID: PMC6457431 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Phytoestrogens have been shown to affect the reproductive hormone levels in both humans and animals. As the main category of phytoestrogens, total flavonoids have a particularly important impact on female animals. To investigate the potential relationship between the total flavonoids in bamboo and the reproductive hormones in female giant pandas, urinary samples and dietary bamboo samples were collected from three main breeding locations (Beijing, Shaanxi and Sichuan). The chemical constituents of the total flavonoids in the bamboo were analysed and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Estradiol (E2), progestin (P), testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) were measured via radioimmunoassay (RIA). The results revealed that the total flavonoids in the bamboo from Sichuan were significantly higher than those in the bamboo from Beijing and Shaanxi, and the concentration in bamboo from Shaanxi was higher than that from Beijing (P < 0.05). The urinary E2, P, T, FSH and LH levels in pandas from Beijing were significantly lower than those in pandas from Sichuan and Shaanxi (P < 0.05). The concentrations of six reproductive hormones were positively associated with the total flavonoid contents in bamboo. In addition, the birth rate of pandas in Sichuan was significantly higher than the birth rate of pandas in Beijing and Shaanxi (P < 0.05). Thus, the flavonoids of bamboo may be related to reproduction and giant pandas might retain a sensitive adaptation to phytoestrogens from bamboo. The total flavonoids of bamboo may play a distinct role in the reproductive success of giant pandas.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technology, Beijing Zoo, No.137 Xi Zhi Men Wai street, Xicheng district, Beijing, China
| | - Chenglin Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technology, Beijing Zoo, No.137 Xi Zhi Men Wai street, Xicheng district, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technology, Beijing Zoo, No.137 Xi Zhi Men Wai street, Xicheng district, Beijing, China
| | - Hejun Duan
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Food Poisoning Diagnosis Traceability Technology, Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No.13 He Ping Li Middle street,Dongcheng district, Beijing, China
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Benavidez KM, Chapman CA, Leitman DC, Harris TR, Wasserman MD. Intergroup variation in oestrogenic plant consumption by black‐and‐white colobus monkeys. Afr J Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M. Benavidez
- Department of Anthropology Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington Indiana
- Department of Biology Texas State University San Marcos Texas
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy St. Edward’s University Austin Texas
| | - Colin A. Chapman
- School of the Environment McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
- Wildlife Conservation Society Bronx New York
- Section of Social Systems Evolution, Primate Research Institute Kyoto University Kyoto Japan
- Department of Anthropology McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
| | - Dale C. Leitman
- Department of Nutritional Science and Toxicology University of California Berkeley Berkeley California
| | - Tara R. Harris
- Director of Conservation and Science Arizona Center for Nature Conservation, Pheonix Zoo Pheonix Arizona
| | - Michael D. Wasserman
- Department of Anthropology Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington Indiana
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy St. Edward’s University Austin Texas
- Department of Anthropology McGill University Montreal Quebec Canada
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7
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Behringer V, Deschner T. Non-invasive monitoring of physiological markers in primates. Horm Behav 2017; 91:3-18. [PMID: 28202354 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The monitoring of endocrine markers that inform about an animal's physiological state has become an invaluable tool for studying the behavioral ecology of primates. While the collection of blood samples usually requires the animal to be caught and immobilized, non-invasively collected samples of saliva, urine, feces or hair can be obtained without any major disturbance of the subject of interest. Such samples enable repeated collection which is required for matching behavioral information over long time periods with detailed information on endocrine markers. We start our review by giving an overview of endocrine and immune markers that have been successfully monitored in relation to topics of interest in primate behavioral ecology. These topics include reproductive, nutritional and health status, changes during ontogeny, social behavior such as rank relationships, aggression and cooperation as well as welfare and conservation issues. We continue by explaining which hormones can be measured in which matrices, and potential problems with measurements. We then describe different methods of hormone measurements and address their advantages and disadvantages. We finally emphasize the importance of thorough validation procedures when measuring a specific hormone in a new species or matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Behringer
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Primatology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
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8
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Fernández D, Doran-Sheehy D, Borries C, Ehardt CL. Exaggerated Sexual Swellings and the Probability of Conception in Wild Sanje Mangabeys ( Cercocebus sanjei). INT J PRIMATOL 2017; 38:513-532. [PMID: 28680189 PMCID: PMC5487806 DOI: 10.1007/s10764-017-9961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Females of several catarrhine primate species exhibit exaggerated sexual swellings that change in size and coloration during the menstrual cycle and, in some species, gestation. Although their function remains under debate, studies indicate that swellings may contain information males could use to discern ovulation and the probability that a cycle will be conceptive. Here we combine visual ratings of swellings with hormonal data for a group of Sanje mangabeys (18 adult, 3 adolescent females) to determine if their swellings provide reliable information on female fertility. In all cases where ovulation was detected (N = 7), it occurred during maximum tumescence, and in 83.3% during the first two days of the "shiny phase," a period during maximum tumescence when the swelling was brightest. There were no significant differences in maximum tumescence and shiny phase duration among cycles of different probability of conception, although there was a trend toward conceptive cycles exhibiting shorter shiny phases than nonconceptive ones. Only 25% (N = 4) of postconceptive swellings developed the shiny phase, and adolescents displayed the longest maximum tumescence and shiny phases. The conspicuous nature of the shiny phase and the frequent overlap between its onset and ovulation suggest that its presence serves as a general signal of ovulation and that the cycle has a high probability of being conceptive. It also suggests that swellings in some Sanje mangabeys are more accurate signals of fertility than in other primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Fernández
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY UK
| | - Diane Doran-Sheehy
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
| | - Carola Borries
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
| | - Carolyn L. Ehardt
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249 USA
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9
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Lambert MR, Edwards TM. Hormonally active phytochemicals and vertebrate evolution. Evol Appl 2017; 10:419-432. [PMID: 28515776 PMCID: PMC5427676 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Living plants produce a diversity of chemicals that share structural and functional properties with vertebrate hormones. Wildlife species interact with these chemicals either through consumption of plant materials or aquatic exposure. Accumulating evidence shows that exposure to these hormonally active phytochemicals (HAPs) often has consequences for behavior, physiology, and fecundity. These fitness effects suggest there is potential for an evolutionary response by vertebrates to HAPs. Here, we explore the toxicological HAP-vertebrate relationship in an evolutionary framework and discuss the potential for vertebrates to adapt to or even co-opt the effects of plant-derived chemicals that influence fitness. We lay out several hypotheses about HAPs and provide a path forward to test whether plant-derived chemicals influence vertebrate reproduction and evolution. Studies of phytochemicals with direct impacts on vertebrate reproduction provide an obvious and compelling system for studying evolutionary toxicology. Furthermore, an understanding of whether animal populations evolve in response to HAPs could provide insightful context for the study of rapid evolution and how animals cope with chemical agents in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max R Lambert
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Yale University New Haven CT USA
| | - Thea M Edwards
- Department of Biology University of the South Sewanee TN USA
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10
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Roberts EK, Lu A, Bergman TJ, Beehner JC. Female Reproductive Parameters in Wild Geladas (Theropithecus gelada). INT J PRIMATOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-016-9939-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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11
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Hermes R, Schwarzenberger F, Göritz F, Oh S, Fernandes T, Bernardino R, Leclerc A, Greunz E, Mathew A, Forsyth S, Saragusty J, Hildebrandt TB. Ovarian down Regulation by GnRF Vaccination Decreases Reproductive Tract Tumour Size in Female White and Greater One-Horned Rhinoceroses. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157963. [PMID: 27403662 PMCID: PMC4942122 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive tract tumours, specifically leiomyoma, are commonly found in female rhinoceroses. Similar to humans, tumour growth in rhinoceroses is thought to be sex hormone dependent. Tumours can form and expand from the onset of ovarian activity at puberty until the cessation of sex-steroid influences at senescence. Extensive tumour growth results in infertility. The aim of this study was to down regulate reproductive function of tumour-diseased and infertile females to stop further tumour growth using a Gonadotropin releasing factor (GnRF) vaccine. Four infertile southern white (Ceratotherium simum simum) and three Greater one-horned rhinoceroses (rhinoceros unicornis) with active ovaries and 2.7 ± 0.9 and 14.0 ± 1.5 reproductive tract tumours respectively were vaccinated against GnRF (Improvac®, Zoetis, Germany) at 0, 4 and 16 weeks and re-boostered every 6-8 months thereafter. After GnRF vaccination ovarian and luteal activity was suppressed in all treated females. Three months after vaccination the size of the ovaries, the number of follicles and the size of the largest follicle were significantly reduced (P<0.03). Reproductive tract tumours decreased significantly in diameter (Greater-one horned rhino: P<0.0001; white rhino: P<0.01), presumably as a result of reduced sex-steroid influence. The calculated tumour volumes were reduced by 50.8 ± 10.9% in Greater one-horned and 48.6 ± 12.9% in white rhinoceroses. In conclusion, GnRF vaccine effectively down regulated reproductive function and decreased the size of reproductive tract tumours in female rhinoceros. Our work is the first to use down regulation of reproductive function as a symptomatic treatment against benign reproductive tumour disease in a wildlife species. Nonetheless, full reversibility and rhinoceros fertility following GnRF vaccination warrants further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Hermes
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, PF 700430, D-10342 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franz Schwarzenberger
- University of Veterinary Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Frank Göritz
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, PF 700430, D-10342 Berlin, Germany
| | - Serena Oh
- Singapore Zoological Gardens, 80 Mandai Lakeroad, Singapore 729826, Singapore
| | - Teresa Fernandes
- Lisbon Zoo, Veterinary Hospital, Estrada de Benfica, n°158-160 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rui Bernardino
- Lisbon Zoo, Veterinary Hospital, Estrada de Benfica, n°158-160 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | - Abraham Mathew
- Singapore Zoological Gardens, 80 Mandai Lakeroad, Singapore 729826, Singapore
| | - Sarah Forsyth
- Colchester Zoo, Maldon Road, Stanway, Essex CO3 0SL, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph Saragusty
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, PF 700430, D-10342 Berlin, Germany
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13
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Aronsen GP, Beuerlein MM, Watts DP, Bribiescas RG. Redtail and red colobus monkeys show intersite urinary cortisol concentration variation in Kibale National Park, Uganda. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 3:cov006. [PMID: 27293691 PMCID: PMC4778450 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cov006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Revised: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Non-invasive measurement of urinary cortisol is a proven method of evaluating the impact of environmental stressors on wild primates. Variation in cortisol concentrations can reflect physiological stress, and prolonged elevation of circulating cortisol can significantly affect individual and population-level health. In a previous study, we found that urinary cortisol concentrations in grey-cheeked mangabeys (Lophocebus albigena) were higher at a highly disturbed site (Mainaro) in Kibale National Park, Uganda compared with a minimally disturbed site (Ngogo) in the same habitat. Here, we expand on this research, reporting on cortisol concentrations in two other cercopithecid monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius and Piliocolobus rufomitratus) at the same two sites. We hypothesized that C. ascanius would show no difference between sites, given its preference for secondary forests, while P. rufomitratus would have higher cortisol concentrations at the disturbed site. Contrary to expectations, both species exhibited significantly higher cortisol concentrations at Ngogo (minimally disturbed) compared with Mainaro (disturbed). We suggest that these results may be caused by inter- or intragroup social dynamics, intersite differences in predation rate, fruit/food availability and chemistry, or a combination of these factors. These initial evaluations of urinary cortisol concentrations provide testable hypotheses on habitat disturbance and Kibale primate ecophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary P. Aronsen
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - David P. Watts
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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14
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Wasserman MD, Milton K, Chapman CA. The Roles of Phytoestrogens in Primate Ecology and Evolution. INT J PRIMATOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-013-9699-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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15
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Wasserman MD, Chapman CA, Milton K, Gogarten JF, Wittwer DJ, Ziegler TE. Estrogenic plant consumption predicts red colobus monkey (Procolobus rufomitratus) hormonal state and behavior. Horm Behav 2012; 62:553-62. [PMID: 23010620 PMCID: PMC3513326 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2012] [Revised: 09/16/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies have examined the effects of anthropogenic endocrine disrupting compounds; however, very little is known about the effects of naturally occurring plant-produced estrogenic compounds (i.e., phytoestrogens) on vertebrates. To examine the seasonal pattern of phytoestrogen consumption and its relationship to hormone levels (407 fecal samples analyzed for estradiol and cortisol) and social behavior (aggression, mating, and grooming) in a primate, we conducted an 11-month field study of red colobus (Procolobus rufomitratus) in Kibale National Park, Uganda. The percent of diet from estrogenic plants averaged 10.7% (n=45 weeks; range: 0.7-32.4%). Red colobus fed more heavily on estrogenic Millettia dura young leaves during weeks of higher rainfall, and the consumption of this estrogenic item was positively correlated to both their fecal estradiol and cortisol levels. Social behaviors were related to estradiol and cortisol levels, as well as the consumption of estrogenic plants and rainfall. The more the red colobus consumed estrogenic plants the higher their rates of aggression and copulation and the lower their time spent grooming. Our results suggest that the consumption of estrogenic plants has important implications for primate health and fitness through interactions with the endocrine system and changes in hormone levels and social behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D. Wasserman
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA
- Department of Anthropology, McGill University, 855 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 2T7, Canada
- Corresponding author: Department of Anthropology, McGill University, 855 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 2T7, Canada. Phone: +1 514 398 4400 ext. 089759, Fax: +1 514 398 7476,
| | - Colin A. Chapman
- Department of Anthropology, McGill University, 855 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 2T7, Canada
- McGill School of Environment, McGill University, 855 Sherbrooke St. West, Montreal, QC H3A 2T7, Canada
- Wildlife Conservation Society, 185th St. and Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10460, USA
| | - Katharine Milton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA
| | - Jan F. Gogarten
- Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Dr. Penfield Ave., Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Dan J. Wittwer
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1220 Capitol Court Madison, WI 53715, USA
| | - Toni E. Ziegler
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1220 Capitol Court Madison, WI 53715, USA
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Wasserman MD, Taylor-Gutt A, Rothman JM, Chapman CA, Milton K, Leitman DC. Estrogenic plant foods of red colobus monkeys and mountain gorillas in Uganda. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2012; 148:88-97. [PMID: 22460223 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2011] [Accepted: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Phytoestrogens, or naturally occurring estrogen-mimicking compounds, are found in many human plant foods, such as soybeans (Glycine max) and other legumes. Because the consumption of phytoestrogens may result in both health benefits of protecting against estrogen-dependent cancers and reproductive costs of disrupting the developing endocrine system, considerable biomedical research has been focused on the physiological and behavioral effects of these compounds. Despite this interest, little is known about the occurrence of phytoestrogens in the diets of wild primates, nor their likely evolutionary importance. We investigated the prevalence of estrogenic plant foods in the diets of two folivorous primate species, the red colobus monkey (Procolobus rufomitratus) of Kibale National Park and mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei) of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, both in Uganda. To examine plant foods for estrogenic activity, we screened 44 plant items (species and part) comprising 78.4% of the diet of red colobus monkeys and 53 plant items comprising 85.2% of the diet of mountain gorillas using transient transfection assays. At least 10.6% of the red colobus diet and 8.8% of the gorilla diet had estrogenic activity. This was mainly the result of the red colobus eating three estrogenic staple foods and the gorillas eating one estrogenic staple food. All estrogenic plants exhibited estrogen receptor (ER) subtype selectivity, as their phytoestrogens activated ERβ, but not ERα. These results demonstrate that estrogenic plant foods are routinely consumed by two folivorous primate species. Phytoestrogens in the wild plant foods of these two species and many other wild primates may have important implications for understanding primate reproductive ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Wasserman
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA.
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LU AMY, BEEHNER JACINTAC, CZEKALA NANCYM, BORRIES CAROLA. Juggling Priorities: Female Mating Tactics in Phayre's Leaf Monkeys. Am J Primatol 2012; 74:471-81. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2011] [Revised: 11/30/2011] [Accepted: 12/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - CAROLA BORRIES
- Department of Anthropology; Stony Brook University; Stony Brook; New York
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