No abstract

Bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, can be separated into coastal and offshore ecotypes based upon hemoglobin levels, packed cell volumes, and red blood cell counts, the offshore form having higher values for all three measures. Captive-bred crosses between coastal and offshore types produce animals with intermediate hematologic profiles suggesting a significant genetic basis for these differences.

Reproductive hormone profiles of six captive killer whales (Orcinu orcus) from three Sea World aquaria were studied for intervals up to 2 yr. Daily urine samples and bimonthly blood samples were collected and analyzed for hormone concentration. Immunoreactive estrone conjugates, pregnanediol-3-glucoruonide, 20-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone as well as bioactive follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured in urine samples and indexed by creatinine concentrations of the same sample. In selected cases, serum progesterone concentrations were also measured. Three of the animals in the study became pregnant during the study period and two of these animals were evaluated during the time of conception and throughout most of gestation. From the data of the three animals that conceived, hormone profiles of the complete ovarian cycle, early pregnancy, and mid- to late gestation are described. The remaining three animals did not conceive and only one of these demonstrated hormone changes that indicated regular ovarian activity. The female reproductive pattern of the killer whale is characterized by a gestation of 17 mo and an ovarian cycle of 6-7 wk in duration. The hormone changes associated with the ovarian cycle of the killer whale are similar to those of most other mammalian species. A bimodal pattern of bioactive FSH with a pronounced rise of estrogen predominates the preovulatory hormone profile. After ovulation, increased progesterone production is observed for approximately 4 wk in the nonconceptive ovarian cycle. During the luteal phase and early pregnancy, when progesterone metabolites are elevated, estrogen metabolite excretion remains low. These data extend the application of urine collections for longitudinal studies involving hormone changes, particularly those involving nondomesticated species.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

There have been 36 bottlenose dolphins born in breeding colonies at Sea World, California, and Sea World, Florida, from 1978-1985. Significant features of this successful reproductive program are construction of a compatible breeding colony, early hormonal detection of pregnancy, pre-and postnatal association of inexperienced mothers with experienced females and their calves, and minimized handling of the mothers and calves until the calves are over 1 year of age. Inclusion in the breeding colonies of males old enough to be effective breeders is stressed. Females in the colonies have successfully bred from 8-9 years of age to 23-24 years of age. Calving intervals in the colonies vary from 2 to over 3 years. Calves are born all year round, with some peaking in calving activity in the spring and fall months. Serum progesterone levels greater than 6,000 pg/ml, maintained over a 4-6-week period, are considered indicative of pregnancy. Progesterone levels vary from less than 10, OOO to over 50,000 pg/ml during gestation, averaging 25,000 pg/ml. The need for further study of variation in the pattern of progesterone levels during pregnancy is emphasized. A gestation period for Tursiops of 11.5 to 12 months is consistent with our cumulative progesterone data.

Clinical hematology and blood chemistry values are reported for the killer whale. These represent a panel of 13 hematological and 21 serum chemistry measurements determined on killer whales maintained for display at Sea World facilities. The values have been collected over a 10-yr period from 14 active, clinically normal individuals, six males and eight females. The cumulative normal values for each of these animals fall into well-defined clusters from which central tendencies and the range of values can be established. No significant male-female differences were observed for any measurement. There were consistent differences among the killer whales in hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell count. A decrease in total white blood cell counts was associated with age and/or changes in parasite loads. Younger animals exhibited higher glucose levels and lower total protein levels. Serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were elevated in older and larger males. Lactic dehydrogenase activity was lower in all animals of Pacific origin, as compared to animals from the Atlantic, regardless of age or sex. These "normal" differences emphasize the importance of establishing an animal's individual hematologic and blood chemistry profile by routine sampling.