The influence of age and season on fecal dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata).

Autor: Takeshita RS; Department of Ecology and Social Behavior, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan. rafaela.takeshita.32c@st.kyoto-u.ac.jp, Huffman MA, Bercovitch FB, Mouri K, Shimizu K
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: General and comparative endocrinology [Gen Comp Endocrinol] 2013 Sep 15; Vol. 191, pp. 39-43. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Jun 07.
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2013.05.019
Abstrakt: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate, DHEAS, are the most abundant steroid hormones in primates, providing a large reservoir of precursors for the production of androgens. DHEAS levels decline with age in adult humans and nonhuman primates, prompting its consideration as a biomarker of senescence. However, the mechanisms responsible for this age-related decrease and its relationship to reproduction remain elusive. This research investigated DHEAS concentrations in fecal samples in order to determine age-related changes in captive Japanese macaques, as well as to assess the possible influence of seasonality. The subjects were 25 female Japanese macaques (2weeks to 14years-old) housed outdoors in social groups at the Primate Research Institute. We collected three fecal samples from each animal during the breeding season (October to December) and three additional samples from adult females during the non-breeding season (May to June). The hormonal concentrations were determined using enzyme immunoassay. DHEAS concentration was negatively correlated with age, but we did not find a significant difference between breeding and non-breeding seasons. Neonatal macaques had the highest DHEAS concentrations of all age groups. We suggest that elevated neonatal DHEAS is possibly a residue from fetal adrenal secretion and that, as in humans, it might assist in neurobiological development.
(Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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