Plasma steroid hormone levels of female red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis: Relationship to mating and gestation

Whittier, Joan M.; Mason, Robert T.; Crews, David

doi:10.1016/0016-6480(87)90202-4

Cited by 126 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The progesterone concentrations report ed here are similar to those recorded previously in field-caught gestating E. whitii (Bell, 1997). Similarly, in female of the viviparous snake Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis, progesterone and oestrogen cycles over the weeks following hibernation did not d iffer between females subjected to confinement in the laboratory and those sampled in the field immediately upon capture (Whittier et al, 1987), while Weiss et al (2002) found no effect of long -term captivity upon plasma progesterone, and other sex steroid concentrations in the oviparous Sceloporus virgatus, although they suggested that endocrine responses to captivity may vary with reproductive state.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Adrenal and white cell count responses to chronic stress in gestating and postpartum females of the viviparous skink Egernia whitii (Scincidae)

Cartledge

Gartrell

Jones

2005

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular &

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Adrenal and white cell count responses to chronic stress in gestating and postpartum females of the viviparous skink Egernia whitii (Scincidae)

Cartledge

Gartrell

Jones

2005

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular &

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“…First, E2 is the primary hormone responsible for stimulating the liver to produce vitellogenins, or egg-yolk proteins (reviewed in Ho et al, 1982), and increases in E2 are correlated with vitellogenic activity in turtles (Ott et al, 2000), alligators (Guillette et al, 1997), lizards (Edwards and Jones, 2001;Radder et al, 2001;, and snakes (Bonnet et al, 1994;Whittier et al, 1987). Second, in creases in E2 commonly occur during the mating season because E2 can stimulate attractivity or receptivity of female reptiles Whittier and Tokarz, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The function of T in female reptiles is poorly understood (Staub and De Beer, 1997). An increase in T is evident in females of many taxa during the mating/vitellogenic period (turtles: Hamann et al, 2002;Ott et al, 2000;alligators: Guil lette et al, 1997;tuatara: Cree et al, 1992;lizards: Ed wards and Jones, 2001;and snakes: Saint-Girons et al, 1993;Whittier et al, 1987), but the function of this increase is unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal steroid hormone levels and their relation to reproduction in the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Taylor

DeNardo

Jennings

2004

General and Comparative Endocrinology

107

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We report seasonal variation in steroid hormone levels in blood samples from free ranging Western Diamond backed Rattle snakes (Crotalus atrox), and the relationship between these hormones and events in the reproductive cycle. At a field site in the Sonoran Desert of south central Arizona, we collected monthly blood samples over the course of two active seasons from 17 ra diotelemetered females, and over three active seasons from 103 randomly encountered males. We used radioimmunoassay to measure plasma levels of 17b estradiol, progesterone, corticosterone, and testosterone in samples from females, and corticosterone and testosterone in samples from males. Non reproductive females have consistently low levels of circulating 17b estradiol, pro gesterone, and testosterone throughout the year. In reproductive females, 17b estradiol levels increase dramatically and testosterone levels increase modestly during vitellogenesis in April and May, while progesterone levels increase dramatically at ovulation in June and then steadily decline until parturition in August. Corticosterone levels appear relatively constant in non reproductive females, whereas reproductive females show increased levels at the end of gestation. Plasma testosterone levels in males are low in early summer and are elevated during spring and late summer, corresponding to the two mating periods of C. atrox. Plasma cortico sterone levels in males did not vary seasonally and were not related to testosterone levels.

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“…Previous studies on the same species have demonstrated that a similar body condition determines reproductive status (vitellogenic versus nonvitellogenic females) and the occurrence of mating , and that plasma estradiol levels control the induction of vitellogenesis . Indeed, estradiol is the primary stimulus for vitellogenesis in many vertebrates (Ho et al, 1982;Callard, Riley, and Perez, 1990;Peyon, Baloche, and Burzawa-Gerard, 1993;Carnavelli, Mosconi, Angelini, Limatola, Ciarcia, and Polzonetti-Magni, 1991) and strongly influences sexual behavior in reptiles (Halpern, Morrell, and Pfaff, 1982;Mason, 1992; but see Whittier, Mason, and Crews, 1987;Saint Girons et al, 1993). Taken together, these data show that reproductive status and sexual behavior are tightly linked in female asp vipers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fat Is Sexy for Females but Not Males: The Influence of Body Reserves on Reproduction in Snakes (Vipera aspis)

Aubret

Bonnet

Shine

et al. 2002

Hormones and Behavior

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Reproduction is energetically expensive for both sexes, but the magnitude of expenditure and its relationship to reproductive success differ fundamentally between males and females. Males allocate relatively little to gamete production and, thus, can reproduce successfully with only minor energy investment. In contrast, females of many species experience high fecundity-independent costs of reproduction (such as migration to nesting sites), so they need to amass substantial energy reserves before initiating reproductive activity. Thus, we expect that the relationship between energy reserves and the intensity of reproductive behavior involves a threshold effect in females, but a gradual (or no) effect in males. We tested this prediction using captive vipers (Vipera aspis), dividing both males and females into groups of high versus low body condition. Snakes from each group were placed together and observed for reproductive behavior; sex-steroid levels were also measured. As predicted, females in below-average body condition had very low estradiol levels and did not show sexual receptivity, whereas males of all body condition indices had significant testosterone levels and displayed active courtship. Testosterone levels and courtship intensity increased gradually (i.e., no step function) with body condition in males, but high estradiol levels and sexual receptivity were seen only in females with body reserves above a critical threshold. The energetics of reproduction has been a central theme in the ecological study of life history variation (Hirshfield and Tinkle, 1975;Morris, 1987Morris, , 1992Winkler and Wallin, 1987;Stearns, 1992; Monaghan and Nager, 1997), and more recently this topic has become an important focus in behavioral endocrinology (Cherel, Mauget, Lacroix, and Gilles, 1994;Bronson, 1998). It is obvious that organisms cannot reproduce in the total absence of energy reserves (Frish, 1978;Frish and McArthur, 1974), but the relationship between the amount of energy reserves and reproductive output (or effort) is complex and varies among species. In some species there is a linear relationship between energy reserves and reproductive output. In others there appears to be no discernible relationship (e.g., if clutch and offspring sizes are fixed) or a complex nonlinear relationship between the two variables. For example, many organisms are "capital breeders" that rely on previously gathered energy stored in the form of body reserves (i.e., fat bodies, proteins) rather than on current energy intake to fuel the energetically costly process of reproduction (Drent and Daan, 1980;Jö nsson, 1997; Bonnet, Bradshaw, and Shine, 1998). In such species, life history theory predicts that a threshold level of energy reserves is necessary for a reproductive cycle to begin, rather than a linear relationship in which an increment in energy availability adds an increment in reproductive output (Schaffer, 1974;Bull and Shine, 1979;Stearns, 1992). Several empirical studies provide evidence for nonlinear relationships between...

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Plasma steroid hormone levels of female red-sided garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis: Relationship to mating and gestation

Cited by 126 publications

References 20 publications

Adrenal and white cell count responses to chronic stress in gestating and postpartum females of the viviparous skink Egernia whitii (Scincidae)

Adrenal and white cell count responses to chronic stress in gestating and postpartum females of the viviparous skink Egernia whitii (Scincidae)

Seasonal steroid hormone levels and their relation to reproduction in the Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake, Crotalus atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Fat Is Sexy for Females but Not Males: The Influence of Body Reserves on Reproduction in Snakes (Vipera aspis)

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