scholarly journals Demonstration of 2-unsaturated C19-steroids in the urine of female Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, and their dependence on ovarian activity

Reproduction ◽  
2001 ◽  
pp. 475-484 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Dehnhard ◽  
M Heistermann ◽  
F Goritz ◽  
R Hermes ◽  
T Hildebrandt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Additional Data ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Ovarian Cycle ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Cycle Duration ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Volatile Substances

Air-borne volatile substances have been demonstrated to signal oestrus, induce ovulation and synchronize ovarian activity in different mammals. An oestrous-related pheromone of the female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is known to induce behavioural responses in elephant bulls. Additional data revealed that timing of oestrus in females with close social relationships tends to be synchronized. Therefore, urine from female Asian elephants might be expected to contain luteal phase-dependent volatile substances, which may function as additional chemical signals in this species. The aim of the present study was to identify such compounds and to investigate their pattern of excretion throughout the ovarian cycle. Urine samples were collected three times a week during the follicular phase and one to three times a week during the luteal phase from five adult female Asian elephants from a total of 13 non-conception cycles and one conception cycle, including the first 72 weeks of pregnancy. A simple headspace solid-phase microextraction method has been developed for quantification of urinary volatile substances and analysis was performed by gas chromatography. The comparison of urine collected during the follicular and the luteal phase indicated the presence of two luteal phase-dependent substances. Mass spectrometry was used to identify one substance as 5alpha-androst-2-en-17-one and a second substance as the corresponding alcoholic compound 5alpha-androst-2-en-17beta-ol. The 5alpha-androst-2-en-17beta-ol and -17-one profiles reflected cyclic ovarian activity with clear (10-20-fold) luteal phase increases. Furthermore, measurements of both compounds were correlated positively with the concentration of urinary pregnanetriol and indicated cycle duration (15.1 +/- 1.2 weeks) similar to that obtained from pregnanetriol measurements (15.2 +/- 1.6 weeks). The results demonstrate the presence of two luteal phase-specific steroidal volatile compounds in elephant urine. One of the substances, 5alpha-androst-2-en-17-one, has been demonstrated in human axillary bacterial isolates. The measurement of both volatile substances in elephant urine can be used for rapid detection of the stage of the ovarian cycle, as the analysis can be completed within 2 h.

scholarly journals Social relationships of wild juvenile Asian Elephants Elephas maximus in the Udawalawa National Park, Sri Lanka

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepani Jayantha ◽  
P.N. Dayawansa ◽  
U.K.G.K. Padmalal ◽  
W.D. Ratnasooriya
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
National Park ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Asian Elephants

scholarly journals Effects of physiological changes and social life events on adrenal glucocorticoid activity in female zoo-housed Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0241910
Author(s):  
Sharon S. Glaeser ◽  
Katie L. Edwards ◽  
Nadja Wielebnowski ◽  
Janine L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Life Events ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Ovarian Cycle ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Cycle Phase ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Adrenal Glucocorticoid

Ensuring good health and welfare is an increasingly important consideration for conservation of endangered species and includes breeding of individuals managed under human care. Understanding how factors in the captive environment affect individual animal wellbeing can be aided by long-term monitoring of biological functioning. This study involved longitudinal assessments (4 to 28 years) of reproductive and adrenal hormones in zoo-housed female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) (age range 4 to ~71 years) to elucidate patterns in adrenal glucocorticoid (GC) activity in association with reproductive and demographic factors, and examine individual response to major social changes. Concentrations of serum and urinary cortisol covaried more consistently with physiological changes (ovarian cycle phase, puberty, pregnancy, lactational anestrus, and age) than with social life events (births, deaths, and facility transfers). Cortisol fluctuated across the ovarian cycle with mean concentrations being higher in the follicular than in the luteal phase, and concentrations were highest in lactational anestrous compared to all other reproductive states. The elephants in this study exhibited substantial individuality in adrenal GC response to major social change, reinforcing the need to assess welfare on an individual basis and to consider factors influencing the impact of perceived stressors, such as social relationships, social support, temperament, and life history. Outcomes from this study deepen our understanding of Asian elephant physiology and highlight the importance of taking intrinsic patterns of hormone secretion into account when evaluating the impact of external factors. Finally, a better understanding of the impact of social change and resiliency in response to real and perceived stressors allows us to improve social management to enhance welfare in both captive settings and free-ranging environments.

Social Dynamics of a Newly Integrated Bachelor Group of Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus): Welfare implications

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Amy L. Schreier ◽  
Taylor S. Readyhough ◽  
Anneke Moresco ◽  
Maura Davis ◽  
Sharon Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Social Dynamics ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
Welfare Implications

THE OCCURRENCE OF ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HER-PESVIRUS IN CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS): FIRST CASE OF EEHV4 IN ASIA

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supaphen Sripiboon ◽  
Pallop Tankaew ◽  
Grishda Lungka ◽  
Chatchote Thitaram
Keyword(s):  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Asian Elephants ◽  
First Case

Dry season diets and habitat use of sympatric Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinocerus unicornis) in Nepal

2005 ◽  
Vol 265 (4) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geir Steinheim ◽  
Per Wegge ◽  
Jo I. Fjellstad ◽  
Shant R. Jnawali ◽  
Robert B. Weladji
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Asian Elephants

Evidence of nitric oxide in the exhaled gas of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

1996 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Lewandowski ◽  
Thilo Busch ◽  
Monika Lewandowski ◽  
Uwe Keske ◽  
Herwig Gerlach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Elephas Maximus ◽  
Asian Elephants

Protein kinase C in uterine and systemic arteries during ovarian cycle and pregnancy

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (3) ◽  
pp. E464-E470 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Magness ◽  
C. R. Rosenfeld ◽  
B. R. Carr
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Protein Kinase C ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Luteal Phase ◽  
Follicular Phase ◽  
Ovarian Cycle ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Kinase C ◽  
Estrogen Production ◽  
Systemic Artery

Elevated uterine blood flow is associated with increases in local estrogen-to-progesterone ratios during the follicular phase of the ovarian cycle and late pregnancy. Because protein kinase C (PKC) activation increases arterial tone, decreased PKC activity may mediate vasodilation. Therefore, we determined uterine (UA) and systemic artery (SA, omental) PKC activity (pmol.mg protein-1.min-1) during the follicular (n = 6), early luteal (n = 4), and late luteal (n = 3) phases of the sheep ovarian cycle, and at 110 +/- 3 (n = 4) and 130 +/- 1 (n = 8) (+/- SE) days of ovine gestation. The stage of the ovarian cycle was verified by the presence of follicles (high estrogen) or corpora lutea (high progesterone) on the ovary and by plasma estrogen and progesterone concentrations. UA-PKC activity (pmol.mg protein-1.min-1) during the follicular phase was 100 +/- 18 and increased progressively to 155 +/- 28 during the early luteal phase and to 219 +/- 37 (P less than 0.05) during the late luteal phase; SA-PKC activity was unchanged. A local utero-ovarian relationship was observed, i.e., UA-PKC activity was lower (P less than 0.001) in UA ipsilateral to ovaries with only follicles (105 +/- 14) when compared with UA adjacent to ovaries with corpora lutea (224 +/- 26), which was similar to SA-PKC activity (184 +/- 35). UA-PKC activity fell from 344 +/- 70 at 110 days to 109 +/- 12 at 130 days gestation (P less than 0.05); SA-PKC activity was unchanged. During the ovarian cycle and latter one-third of ovine pregnancy, increased estrogen production is associated with decreased UA-PKC activity; thus local ovarian and placental steroids may alter PKC activity, thereby regulating UA tone and blood flow.

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