title: Circulating anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations in relation to age and season in male and female beluga (Delphinapterus leucas).
abstract: The present study aimed to describe serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) patterns of ex situ male and female beluga to examine the influence of age (divided into 5-year categories) or sexual maturation and reproductive season. In males aged 5-9 years, AMH concentrations were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those in all age categories exceeding 15 years and were not influenced by season (P=0.57). AMH concentrations in females peaked in the 5-9-year age category during the breeding season and decreased (P<0.05) after 9 years of age. Aged females displayed lower (P<0.05) AMH concentrations than immature and mature animals and immature females secreted higher concentrations than mature animals (P=0.03). For mature females, seasonal differences (P=0.02) in AMH concentrations were detected, with females in the breeding season displaying higher AMH concentrations than in the non-breeding season. This is the first time AMH has been characterised in a cetacean species and the first potential hormonal evidence of reproductive senescence in beluga. Further research is required to determine if this hormone can be used as a predictor of fertility for the species.
authors.affiliation: SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Inc., SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.
authors.forename: Gisele A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Montano
authors.affiliation: SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Inc., SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.
authors.forename: Todd R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Robeck
authors.affiliation: SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Inc., SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Steinman
authors.affiliation: SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, Inc., SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Reproductive Research Center, 2595 Ingraham Street, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.
authors.forename: Justine K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D050643:Beluga Whale / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone