1
|
Cools T, Wilson KS, Li D, Vancsok C, Mulot B, Leclerc A, Kok J, Haapakoski M, Bertelsen MF, Ochs A, Girling SJ, Zhou Y, Li R, Vanhaecke L, Wauters J. Development and validation of a versatile non-invasive urinary steroidomics method for wildlife biomonitoring. Talanta 2024; 273:125924. [PMID: 38518717 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.125924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Wildlife conservation is often challenged by a lack of knowledge about the reproduction biology and adaptability of endangered species. Although monitoring steroids and related molecules can increase this knowledge, the applicability of current techniques (e.g. immunoassays) is hampered by species-specific steroid metabolism and the requisite to avoid invasive sampling. This study presents a validated steroidomics method for the (un)targeted screening of a wide range of sex and stress steroids and related molecules in urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). In total, 50 steroids (conjugated and non-conjugated androgens, estrogens, progestogens and glucocorticoids) and 6 prostaglandins could be uniquely detected. A total of 45 out of 56 compounds demonstrated a detection limit below 0.01 ng μL-1. Excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99), precision (CV < 20 %), and recovery (80-120 %) were observed for 46, 41, and 39 compounds, respectively. Untargeted screening of pooled giant panda and human samples yielded 9691 and 8366 features with CV < 30 %, from which 84.1 % and 83.0 %, respectively, also demonstrated excellent linearity (R2 > 0.90). The biological validity of the method was investigated on male and female giant panda urine (n = 20), as well as pooled human samples (n = 10). A total of 24 different steroids were detected with clear qualitative and quantitative differences between human and giant panda samples. Furthermore, expected differences were revealed between female giant panda samples from different reproductive phases. In contrast to traditional biomonitoring techniques, the developed steroidomics method was able to screen a wide range of compounds and provide information on the putative identities of metabolites potentially important for reproductive monitoring in giant pandas. These results illustrate the advancements steroidomics brings to the field of wildlife biomonitoring in the pursuit to better understand the biology of endangered species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom Cools
- Laboratory of Integrative Metabolomics, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kirsten S Wilson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, 4-5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Desheng Li
- Key Laboratory of SFGA on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda (CCRCGP), People's Republic of China
| | - Catherine Vancsok
- Pairi Daiza Foundation - Pairi Daiza, Domaine de Cambron, 7940, Brugelette, Belgium
| | - Baptiste Mulot
- ZooParc de Beauval and Beauval Nature, Avenue du Blanc, 41110, Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Antoine Leclerc
- ZooParc de Beauval and Beauval Nature, Avenue du Blanc, 41110, Saint-Aignan, France
| | - José Kok
- Ouwehands Dierenpark Rhenen, Grebbeweg 111, 3911, AV Rhenen, the Netherlands
| | - Marko Haapakoski
- Ähtärin Eläinpuisto OY, Karhunkierros 150, FI-63700, Ähtäri, Finland; Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, Sirkkamäentie 220, FI-44300, Konnevesi, Finland
| | | | - Andreas Ochs
- Berlin Zoo, Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon J Girling
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Yingmin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of SFGA on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda (CCRCGP), People's Republic of China
| | - Rengui Li
- Key Laboratory of SFGA on Conservation Biology of Rare Animals in The Giant Panda National Park, China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda (CCRCGP), People's Republic of China
| | - Lynn Vanhaecke
- Laboratory of Integrative Metabolomics, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium; Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
| | - Jella Wauters
- Laboratory of Integrative Metabolomics, Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kische H, Voss C, Haring R, Ollmann TM, Pieper L, Kirschbaum C, Beesdo-Baum K. Hair androgen concentrations and depressive disorders in adolescents from the general population. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023; 32:1375-1389. [PMID: 35112167 PMCID: PMC10326161 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-021-01929-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Although the link between androgens and depression is well established in adults, the effects of cofactors on this association are less clearly understood, particularly in youth. Epidemiological cohort study of adolescents in Dresden, Germany. Analyses comprised data of 985 individuals assessed at baseline and of 512 individuals at 1-year follow-up. We investigated multivariable regression models for cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of hair testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and their cortisol ratios with 12-month diagnoses of major depressive disorder (MDD) and MDD without any anxiety disorder assessed with standardized diagnostic interview (DIA-X-5), and with dimensional depression scores (PHQ-9, PROMIS), separately for males and females. The potential moderating effect of social support was determined. Cross-sectional analyses yielded inverse associations of testosterone and DHEA with MDD and MDD without any anxiety disorders in males. In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, baseline ratio cortisol/DHEA was significantly, inversely associated to PROMIS-depression in males. Only cross-sectional associations for ratio cortisol/DHEA and PROMIS-depression remained significant after Bonferroni-Holm correction. No robust associations were observed in female participants. Social support exerted no consistent moderating effect on the investigated association. The present observational cohort study showed no consistent association of hair androgen concentrations with depressive disorders in adolescents. However, findings provide some support for the association between the cortisol/DHEA ratio and depression in males. Longitudinal research designs in large samples are needed to understand the interplay between androgens, depression, and developmental and social factors in youth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Kische
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Behavioral Epidemiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Catharina Voss
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Behavioral Epidemiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany
| | - Robin Haring
- Faculty of Applied Public Health, European University of Applied Sciences, Rostock, Germany
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Theresa Magdalena Ollmann
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Behavioral Epidemiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lars Pieper
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Behavioral Epidemiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Biopsychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katja Beesdo-Baum
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Behavioral Epidemiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dallas JW, Warne RW. Captivity and Animal Microbiomes: Potential Roles of Microbiota for Influencing Animal Conservation. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 85:820-838. [PMID: 35316343 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-022-01991-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
During the ongoing biodiversity crisis, captive conservation and breeding programs offer a refuge for species to persist and provide source populations for reintroduction efforts. Unfortunately, captive animals are at a higher disease risk and reintroduction efforts remain largely unsuccessful. One potential factor in these outcomes is the host microbiota which includes a large diversity and abundance of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that play an essential role in host physiology. Relative to wild populations, the generalized pattern of gut and skin microbiomes in captivity are reduced alpha diversity and they exhibit a significant shift in community composition and/or structure which often correlates with various physiological maladies. Many conditions of captivity (antibiotic exposure, altered diet composition, homogenous environment, increased stress, and altered intraspecific interactions) likely lead to changes in the host-associated microbiome. To minimize the problems arising from captivity, efforts can be taken to manipulate microbial diversity and composition to be comparable with wild populations through methods such as increasing dietary diversity, exposure to natural environmental reservoirs, or probiotics. For individuals destined for reintroduction, these strategies can prime the microbiota to buffer against novel pathogens and changes in diet and improve reintroduction success. The microbiome is a critical component of animal physiology and its role in species conservation should be expanded and included in the repertoire of future management practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason W Dallas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA.
| | - Robin W Warne
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kennedy EKC, Janz DM. Chronic stress causes cortisol, cortisone and DHEA elevations in scales but not serum in rainbow trout. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 276:111352. [PMID: 36427661 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fish scales have been reported to incorporate cortisol over long periods of time and thus provide a promising means of assessing long-term stress in many species of teleost fish. However, the quantification of other stress related hormones has only been accomplished in our previous study conducted in goldfish (Carassius auratus). DHEA is a precursory androgen with anti-stress effects used alongside cortisol to diagnose chronic stress via the cortisol:DHEA ratio in mammals. Included in DHEA's anti-stress mechanisms are changes in the metabolism of cortisol to its inactive metabolite cortisone suggesting the relationships between cortisol, DHEA and cortisone may be additionally informative in the assessment of long-term stress. Therefore, to further explore these concepts in a native fish species and generate more comprehensive comparisons between scale and serum hormone concentrations than was possible in our previous study we implemented a 14-day stress protocol in adult rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and quantified resulting scale and serum cortisol, cortisone and DHEA concentrations. As predicted, elevations in scale concentrations of all hormones were observed in stressed trout compared to controls but were not reflected in serum samples. Significant differences in the cortisol:DHEA and cortisone:cortisol ratios were also found between control and stressed group scales but not serum. These results suggest not only that scales provide a superior medium for the assessment of long-term stress but also that the addition of scale cortisone and DHEA may provide additional relevant information for such assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily K C Kennedy
- Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
| | - David M Janz
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Physical Injuries and Hair Corticosterone Concentration in Rabbit Kits from Single- and Group-Housed Does Kept on a Commercial Farm. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020196. [PMID: 36670736 PMCID: PMC9854544 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In intense breeding programs, rabbits are exposed to numerous stress factors which could affect their welfare and health. It has been suggested that group housing is more comfortable for does and similar to the living conditions of European wild rabbits. In this study, we compared three different housing systems—single housing; housing in pairs; and housing in groups of three does—to test whether there is a measurable impact on skin lesions, health, and hair corticosterone concentration (HCC) of their kits. The number of kits with lesions increased with the number of does kept together. The probability of kits getting injured was higher in groups of three does than in pens of single-housed does (p = 0.041). When does were pair-housed, kits seemed to have fewer disease symptoms compared to the other treatments. Concerning HCC of kits, there was no significant difference between the housing systems (p > 0.05). The mean HCC of kits was 2.94 pg/mg, while pair housing had the lowest HCC (2.59 pg/mg). This study focused on the welfare of kits from group-housed does. From this perspective, pair housing of does may be appropriate to allow social interaction between does without unduly affecting the welfare of their kits.
Collapse
|
6
|
Application of Felid Hair for Non-Invasive Tracking of Animal Reproductive Status and Adrenal Activity. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12202792. [PMID: 36290178 PMCID: PMC9597714 DOI: 10.3390/ani12202792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Hair can be a useful matrix to examine the hormonal status of an animal, although it is difficult to correlate the results to a specific time point. The aim of this study was to evaluate seasonal changes in cortisol and testosterone levels in the hair of four feline species (lynx, Lynx lynx, n = 8; Amur wildcat, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, n = 8; caracal, Caracal caracal, n = 6 and domestic cat, Felis catus, n = 17) with different breeding strategies. Animals of both sexes were sampled over the year, once per season (every three months), and the concentrations of hair testosterone and cortisol were measured by EIA. Both hormones showed annual dynamic changes, which coincided with the reproductive seasonality of the studied species. Sexual differences in testosterone level were found only during the mating season (spring for lynx and Amur wildcats, spring-summer for domestic cats), when testosterone levels were higher in males than in females. Cortisol levels were higher in males than in females in domestic cats and Amur wildcat, but also only during the mating season. Seasonal increases in testosterone were observed in three seasonal breeders (lynx, Amur wildcat and domestic cat) but not in caracal, which had high testosterone levels over the whole year. In lynx and Amur wildcat, it decreased sharply in the summer. Cortisol levels increased during the mating period in domestic cat males and lynx of both sexes; in caracal, an increase in cortisol was related to the transfer of animals to smaller winter cages. Measurements of steroids in hair can provide a reliable method for evaluating the reproductive status and the activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in several felid species.
Collapse
|
7
|
First Look into the Use of Fish Scales as a Medium for Multi-Hormone Stress Analyses. FISHES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/fishes7040145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Recent efforts have provided convincing evidence for the use of fish scale cortisol concentration in the assessment of long-term stress in fishes. However, cortisol alone is not sufficient to fully describe this state of long-term stress. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an androgen with actions that oppose those of cortisol. The means by which DHEA negates the effects of cortisol occurs in part via changes in the metabolism of cortisol to cortisone. The quantitation of cortisol, DHEA and cortisone could therefore provide a more comprehensive assessment of the overall status of physiological stress. As DHEA and cortisone have yet to be quantified within the fish scale, our first objective was to ensure our sample processing protocol for cortisol was applicable to cortisone and DHEA. Following this, we induced a state of long-term stress in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Some degree of elevation in all hormones was observed in the stressed fish scales. Additionally, cortisol and cortisone were significantly elevated in the stressed fish serum in comparison to controls while DHEA was undetectable in either group. Overall, these results suggest that fish scales provide an appropriate medium for the assessment of long-term stress in fishes via the quantitation of relevant steroid hormones.
Collapse
|
8
|
Sandoval-Herrera NI, Mastromonaco GF, Becker DJ, Simmons NB, Welch KC. Inter- and intra-specific variation in hair cortisol concentrations of Neotropical bats. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab053. [PMID: 34267922 PMCID: PMC8278960 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying hair cortisol has become popular in wildlife ecology for its practical advantages for evaluating stress. Before hair cortisol levels can be reliably interpreted, however, it is key to first understand the intrinsic factors explaining intra- and inter-specific variation. Bats are an ecologically diverse group of mammals that allow studying such variation. Given that many bat species are threatened or have declining populations in parts of their range, minimally invasive tools for monitoring colony health and identifying cryptic stressors are needed to efficiently direct conservation efforts. Here we describe intra- and inter-specific sources of variation in hair cortisol levels in 18 Neotropical bat species from Belize and Mexico. We found that fecundity is an important ecological trait explaining inter-specific variation in bat hair cortisol. Other ecological variables such as colony size, roost durability and basal metabolic rate did not explain hair cortisol variation among species. At the individual level, females exhibited higher hair cortisol levels than males and the effect of body mass varied among species. Overall, our findings help validate and accurately apply hair cortisol as a monitoring tool in free-ranging bats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia I Sandoval-Herrera
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | | | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - Nancy B Simmons
- Department of Mammalogy, Division of Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024-5102, USA
| | - Kenneth C Welch
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B2, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Azevedo A, Bailey L, Bandeira V, Fonseca C, Wauters J, Jewgenow K. Decreasing glucocorticoid levels towards the expansion front suggest ongoing expansion in a terrestrial mammal. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 9:coab050. [PMID: 34249365 PMCID: PMC8253928 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the causes of range expansions in abundant species can help predict future species distributions. During range expansions, animals are exposed to novel environments and are required to cope with new and unpredictable stressors. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are mediators of the hormonal and behavioural mechanisms allowing animals to cope with unpredictable changes in the environment and are therefore expected to differ between populations at expansion edge and the historic range. However, to date, very few studies have evaluated the relationship between GCs and range expansion. The Egyptian mongoose has been rapidly expanding its range in Portugal over the past 30 years. In this study, we applied an information theoretic approach to determine the most important spatial and environmental predictors of hair GCs (hGCs) in the population, after controlling for normal patterns of hGC variation in the species. We observed a decrease in hGC as distance from the historic range increased (i.e. closer to the expansion front). This distance term was present in all of the top models and had a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) that did not overlap with zero, strongly supporting its influence on hGC. We estimated a 0.031 pg/mg (95% CI: -0.057, -0.004) decrease in hGCs for each kilometre distance to the Tagus River, which was once the limit of the species' distribution. Our results indicate that the species' expansion is unlikely to be limited by mechanisms related to or mediated by the physiological stress response. The decrease in hGC levels towards the expansion edge coupled with limited evidence of a negative effect of human population density suggests that the species' northward expansion in Portugal could continue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Azevedo
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar - University of Porto, R. Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Corresponding author: Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Liam Bailey
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Bandeira
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Carlos Fonseca
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- ForestWISE - Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest and Fire Management, Quinta de Prados, Campus da UTAD 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Jella Wauters
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katarina Jewgenow
- Department of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|