M. Ancrenaz et al., TEMPORAL VARIATIONS OF LH AND TESTOSTERONE IN ARABIAN ORYX (ORYX-LEUCORYX) FROM BIRTH TO ADULTHOOD, General and comparative endocrinology (Print), 111(3), 1998, pp. 283-289
To determine the onset of puberty in Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx), a l
ongitudinal study was conducted in 5 captive males at the National Wil
dlife Research Centre, Taif (Saudi Arabia). From birth to 20 months of
age, twice weekly, animals were weighed and blood was assayed for LH
and testosterone. Four periods were defined by analysis of the hormona
l profile. During the first 5 months (corresponding to prepuberty), me
an LH concentrations increased significantly while testosterone remain
ed basal. Testosterone increased significantly during the second perio
d (from 6 to 7 months) while LH decreased significantly. The testoster
one pattern suggests that the animals reached puberty at around 7 mont
hs old. Mean LH concentrations remained at a similar level before and
after puberty and increased significantly between the 12th and 13th mo
nths of life. This increment correspond to the transition between two
further periods. The third period (8-12 months) was characterized by t
estosterone peaks of 2.4 +/- 0.1 ng ml(-1) which irregularly occurred
over a period of 26.6 +/- 2.7 days and was followed by a fourth period
, during which peaks were seen at 24.1 +/- 1.6-day intervals and reach
ed 4.7 +/- 0.2 ng ml(-1). This last period probably corresponds to the
mature stage of puberty. The testosterone cyclicity in oryx, coincidi
ng with the estrous cycle length of the female, would permit the male
to be fertile throughout the year and could be an adaptive response to
the opportunistic and aseasonal reproductive cycle of the female. (C)
1998 Academic Press.