title: Changes in the fecal concentrations of cortisol and androgen metabolites in captive male jaguars (Panthera onca) in response to stress.
abstract: In the present study we determined the efficacy of the measurement of fecal cortisol and androgen metabolite concentrations to monitor adrenal and testicular activity in the jaguar (Panthera onca). Three captive male jaguars were chemically restrained and electroejaculated once or twice within a period of two months. Fecal samples were collected daily for 5 days before and 5 days after the procedure and stored at -20 degrees C until extraction. Variations in the concentrations of cortisol and androgen metabolites before and after the procedure were determined by solid phase cortisol and testosterone radioimmunoassay and feces dry weight was determined by drying at 37 degrees C for 24 h under vacuum. On four occasions, fecal cortisol metabolite levels were elevated above baseline (307.8 +/- 17.5 ng/g dry feces) in the first fecal sample collected after the procedure (100 to 350% above baseline). On one occasion, we did not detect any variation. Mean (+/- SEM) fecal androgen concentration did not change after chemical restraint and electroejaculation (before: 131.1 +/- 26.7, after: 213.7 +/- 43.6 ng/g dry feces). These data show that determination of fecal cortisol and androgen metabolites can be very useful for a noninvasive assessment of animal well-being and as a complement to behavioral, physiological, and pathological studies. It can also be useful for the study of the relationship between adrenal activity and reproductive performance in the jaguar.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa para a Conservação dos Predadores Naturais (CENAP-IBAMA), Associação Pró-Carnívoros, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Bandeirantes, São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil. ronaldo@procarnivoros.org.br
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Morato
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malmheister
authors.forename: I T N
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Verreschi
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Barnabe
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D000304:Adrenal Cortex Function Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D000728:Androgens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D046009:Panthera / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D006854:Hydrocortisone