TY - JOUR
T1 - Seasonal plasma levels of luteinizing and steroid hormones in male and female domestic ostriches (Struthio camelus)
AU - Degen, A. Allan
AU - Weil, Simy
AU - Rosenstrauch, Avi
AU - Kam, Michael
AU - Dawson, Alistair
PY - 1994/1/1
Y1 - 1994/1/1
N2 - Ostriches are low-latitude birds and can be considered to be seasonal breeders. However, they are also opportunistic in that they can breed all year round. Monthly hormonal plasma concentrations were measured in six female and six male domestic ostriches kept at a latitude of 31°20'N. Measurements were made over a year, during which time each female laid an average of 28.7 eggs. Egg laying occurred between March and September, with peak numbers in May-June. Concentrations of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) increased in February in both sexes and started declining before termination of egg laying. Plasma testosterone concentrations in males increased in April, about 2 months after the increase in LH. In females, plasma estradiol concentrations peaked in May but were elevated from March to August, basically all of the egg-laying period. Plasma hormonal changes in the ostriches were gradual and not abrupt, as seen in many wild seasonal breeders of higher latitude.
AB - Ostriches are low-latitude birds and can be considered to be seasonal breeders. However, they are also opportunistic in that they can breed all year round. Monthly hormonal plasma concentrations were measured in six female and six male domestic ostriches kept at a latitude of 31°20'N. Measurements were made over a year, during which time each female laid an average of 28.7 eggs. Egg laying occurred between March and September, with peak numbers in May-June. Concentrations of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) increased in February in both sexes and started declining before termination of egg laying. Plasma testosterone concentrations in males increased in April, about 2 months after the increase in LH. In females, plasma estradiol concentrations peaked in May but were elevated from March to August, basically all of the egg-laying period. Plasma hormonal changes in the ostriches were gradual and not abrupt, as seen in many wild seasonal breeders of higher latitude.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0028053077&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/gcen.1994.1003
DO - 10.1006/gcen.1994.1003
M3 - Article
C2 - 8138115
AN - SCOPUS:0028053077
SN - 0016-6480
VL - 93
SP - 21
EP - 27
JO - General and Comparative Endocrinology
JF - General and Comparative Endocrinology
IS - 1
ER -