Hormone levels and antler development in white-tailed and sika fawns.
Overall mean values of testosterone (T), androstenedione (A), thyroxine (T4), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were (T) 2.56 +/- 2.44 ng/ml, (A) 3.16 +/- 2.58 ng/ml, (T4) 8.22 +/- 4.18 micrograms/dl, (Ca), 10.88 +/- 0.65 mg%, (P) 8.03 +/- 0.68 mg%, and (AP) 81.89 +/- 19.45 IU/l in white-tailed fawns and (T) 3.69 +/- 2.76 ng/ml, (A) 18.26 +/- 17.58 ng/ml, (T4) 4.41 +/- 1.59 micrograms/dl, (Ca) 10.08 +/- 0.80 mg%, (P) 9.42 +/- 1.69 mg% and (AP) 95.35 +/- 22.65 IU/l in sika fawns. High T titers correlated with antler button growth, and A titers peaked as buttons hardened in both groups. Higher T4 levels in late fall and early winter may have had a synergistic role for button growth in both groups. Generally higher P levels in sika fawns and relatively higher Ca levels in white-tailed fawns might be species dependent. However, relatively constant Ca and P in both groups represented mineral homeostasis. The mineralization role of AP activity was evident in both groups.
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000254:growth & development*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003670:Deer / Q000097:blood / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006733:Horns / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D012621:Seasons; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D006728:Hormones; D010758:Phosphorus; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D013974:Thyroxine; D002118:Calcium