A. Cree et al., Lack of consistent hormonal responses to capture during the breeding season of the bearded dragon, Pogona barbata, COMP BIOC A, 126(2), 2000, pp. 275-285
Citations number
42
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences",Physiology
Journal title
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY A-MOLECULAR AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
The bearded dragon (Pogona barbata: Agamidae) is a diurnal, oviparous, mult
i-clutching lizard from Australia. We examined plasma hormonal responses to
capture in males and females during the spring breeding season. Corticoste
rone concentrations at capture (0 h; less than or equal to 3 min after capt
ure) were low (males: 1.81 +/- 0.63 ng/ml; females 2.23 +/- 0.47 ng/ml) and
within sexes were unrelated to the time of the day, snout-vent length or,
in females, reproductive condition (vitellogenic, gravid, assumed spent). C
orticosterone concentrations at capture were significantly and inversely co
rrelated with body condition in males, but not in females. Unexpectedly, ne
ither sex showed significant changes in mean concentrations of corticostero
ne at 3.5 or 24 h after capture compared with 0 h values. Corticosterone co
ncentrations at 3.5 h after capture did not differ between dragons bled at
capture or not. Concentrations of progesterone in both the sexes did not ch
ange between 0 h and 3.5 or 24 h after capture. Testosterone concentrations
in males at capture were moderate (10.1 +/- 2.2 ng/ml), and unchanged at 3
.5 h after capture. The adrenocortical axis of adult bearded dragons in the
breeding season seems remarkably unresponsive to capture compared with man
y other reptiles. Low adrenocortical responses to capture may be a feature
of reptiles known to adjust well to captivity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science In
c. All rights reserved.