title: Seasonality of fecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolite excretion in male goral (Naemorhedus griseus) in Thailand.
abstract: There is no information on the endocrinology of Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus), a high priority species for captive breeding and reintroduction in Thailand. This study characterized fecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolites in male goral at Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary to investigate seasonal relationships. Fecal samples were collected 3 days/week for 1 year from eight adult males. Mean androgen metabolite concentrations were greater (P<0.05) during the rainy season (289.82±9.18ng/g) and winter (224.09±11.97ng/g) compared to the summer (195.48±8.23ng/g), and were related to breeding activity. A similar pattern was observed for glucocorticoid concentrations (22.10±0.72ng/g compared to 21.98±0.98ng/g compared to 15.30±0.48ng/g), respectively, and this resulted in a positive correlation between the two hormones (P<0.05). There also were positive correlations between fecal androgen metabolite concentrations and temperature (P<0.05) and day length (P<0.05). In summary, this is the first study to assess endocrine function in male goral, and results showed seasonal variation in testicular and adrenal steroidogenic function, with greater activity in the rainy season and winter. Given that resources for captive male goral are consistent throughout the year, reproduction may be regulated primarily by photoperiod in this species.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand. Electronic address: jaruwan.khonmee@cmu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Jaruwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khonmee
authors.affiliation: Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.
authors.forename: Janine L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suvichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojanasthien
authors.affiliation: Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Omkoi, Chiang Mai 50310, Thailand.
authors.forename: Dissakul
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thumasanukul
authors.affiliation: Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Omkoi, Chiang Mai 50310, Thailand.
authors.forename: Adisorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kongphoemphun
authors.affiliation: Conservation Research and Education Division, Zoological Park Organization, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand.
authors.forename: Boripat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siriaroonrat
authors.affiliation: Conservation Research and Education Division, Zoological Park Organization, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wanlaya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tipkantha
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
authors.forename: Veerasak
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Punyapornwithaya
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chatchote
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thitaram
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012418:Ruminants / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: Androgen metabolites; Glucocorticoid metabolites; Goral; Non-invasive hormone monitoring; Seasonality