title: Validation of an enzyme-immunoassay for the non-invasive monitoring of faecal testosterone metabolites in male cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus).
abstract: In mammals, the sex hormone testosterone is the major endocrine variable to objectify testicular activity and thus reproductive function in males. Testosterone is involved in the development and function of male reproductive physiology and sex-related behaviour. The development of a reliable androgen enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) to monitor faecal testosterone metabolites (fTM) is a powerful tool to non-invasively assess the gonadal status of males. We validated an epiandrosterone EIA for male cheetahs by performing a testosterone radiometabolism study followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses and excluding possible cross-reactivities with androgenic metabolites not derived from testosterone metabolism. The physiological and biological relevance of the epiandrosterone EIA was validated by demonstrating (1) a significant increase in fTM concentrations within one day in response to a testosterone injection, (2) a significant increase in fTM concentrations within one day in response to a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection, which failed following a placebo injection, and (3) significant differences in fTM concentrations between adult male and adult female cheetahs and between adult and juvenile male cheetahs of a free-ranging population. Finally, we demonstrated stability of fTM concentrations measured in faecal samples exposed to ambient temperatures up to 72h. Our results clearly demonstrate that the epiandrosterone EIA is a reliable non-invasive method to monitor testicular activity in male cheetahs.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 19315 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: pribbenow@izw-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pribbenow
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 19315 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: wachter@izw-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wachter
authors.affiliation: Allwetterzoo Münster, Westfälischer Zoologischer Garten Münster GmbH, Sentruper Str. 315, 48161 Münster, Germany. Electronic address: ludwig@allwetterzoo.de.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 19315 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: annika.weigold@wilhelma.de.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weigold
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 19315 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: dehnhard@izw-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dehnhard
mesh_terms: D002612:Acinonyx / Q000378:metabolism*; D000738:Androsterone / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D000738:Androsterone
keywords: Cheetah; Faecal testosterone metabolites; HPLC immunogram; Non-invasive; Radiometabolism study; Testosterone challenge test