dc.contributor.author |
Ghosal, Ratna
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Ganswindt, Andre
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Seshagiri, Polani B.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Sukumar, Raman
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2014-05-21T10:36:57Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2014-05-21T10:36:57Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2013-12-17 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
The occurrence of musth, a period of elevated levels of androgens and heightened sexual activity, has been well
documented for the male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). However, the relationship between androgen dependent
musth and adrenocortical function in this species is unclear. The current study is the first assessment of
testicular and adrenocortical function in free-ranging male Asian elephants by measuring levels of testosterone
(androgen) and cortisol (glucocorticoid – a physiological indicator of stress) metabolites in faeces. During musth,
males expectedly showed significant elevation in faecal testosterone metabolite levels. Interestingly, glucocorticoid
metabolite concentrations remained unchanged between musth and non-musth periods. This observation is contrary
to that observed with wild and captive African elephant bulls and captive Asian bull elephants. Our results show that
musth may not necessarily represent a stressful condition in free-ranging male Asian elephants. |
en |
dc.description.librarian |
am2014 |
en |
dc.description.librarian |
ab2014 |
|
dc.description.sponsorship |
The Rufford Small Grants Foundation, London, U.K. Grant # 8350-1. |
en |
dc.description.uri |
http://www.plosone.org |
en |
dc.identifier.citation |
Ghosal R, Ganswindt A, Seshagiri PB, Sukumar R (2013) Endocrine Correlates of Musth in Free-Ranging Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) Determined by Non-Invasive Faecal Steroid Hormone Metabolite Measurements. PLoS ONE 8(12): e84787. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084787 |
en |
dc.identifier.issn |
1932-6203 |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.1371/journal.pone.0084787 |
|
dc.identifier.other |
6507085906 |
|
dc.identifier.other |
G-9856-2014 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/39840 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en |
dc.publisher |
Public Library of Science |
en |
dc.rights |
© 2013 Ghosal et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License |
en |
dc.subject |
Endocrine |
en |
dc.subject |
Musth |
en |
dc.subject |
Steroid |
en |
dc.subject |
Metabolites in faeces |
en |
dc.subject |
Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) |
en |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Elephants |
en |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Sexual behavior in animals |
en |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Steroid hormones |
en |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Feces |
en |
dc.title |
Endocrine correlates of musth in free-ranging Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) determined by non-invasive faecal steroid hormone metabolite measurements |
en |
dc.type |
Article |
en |