title: The pituitary potential for opportunistic breeding in the Cape dune mole-rat, Bathyergus suillus.
abstract: In this paper we investigated the effect of sex and season on baseline and post-GnRH challenge luteinising hormone (LH) levels in a solitary, seasonally breeding mole-rat. Circulating basal concentrations of luteinising hormone (LH) were found to differ significantly with season in both sexes. However, no significant difference was found in circulating basal LH concentration between the sexes either within or out of the breeding season. The magnitude of the LH response to an exogenous pharmacological overdose of GnRH both in and out of the breeding season in males and females respectively was not significant. This finding suggests that there is no down regulation of GnRH receptors on the pituitary during the non-breeding season. Cape dune mole-rats thus have the potential for opportunistic breeding outside of the typical breeding period. We argue that this represents an adaptation to limited and brief opportunities for mating in this xenophobic and aggressive species.
authors.affiliation: Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa.
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: M Justin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Riain
authors.forename: Jennifer U M
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.forename: Nigel C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bennett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D019577:Mole Rats / Q000502:physiology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone