[Pattern of plasma sex steroid hormone levels during the breeding season of male and female skink: Eumeces chinensis].
Changes in gonadal activity and plasma sex steroid hormone levels in male and female Eumece chinensis during the breeding season were described. The results showed that: The vitellogensis of follicles of female Eumeces chinensis needed the stimulation of 17beta-estradiol (E2). As ovary masses reached peak values between late April and mid-May, E2 levels rose to the top value by late March, and then sharply declined but went up again before preovulation; The physiological functions of plasma progesterone (P) consisted in its oviductal egg retention, embryo development, and eggshell formation. P levels fluctuated near the basic value between mid-March and late April. In mid-May, with the onset of ovulation, plasma P levels rose rapidly, reached peak value by late May and declined sharply after ovulation. Plasma E2 levels declined as plasma P levels rose, showing an inverse relationship between them; In males, plasma Testosterone (T) levels were closely correlated with the maintenance of spermatogenesis activities, male and male combat, sexual display, and mating. Plasma T levels tended to rise after the termination of hibernation, and reached peak value by mid-April. After mid-May, with the testis aggressing, plasma T levels gradually went down and reached bottom value by late June.
Hu
Jian Rao
JR
College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027. hujianrao@hotmail.com
Du
Ji Zeng
JZ
Ji
Xiang
X
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D008116:Lizards / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012621:Seasons; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol