SEASONAL VARIATION OF NUTRITIONAL HORMONES IN CAPTIVE FEMALE MOOSE

• Main Authors: Cory J. Stantorf, C. Loren Buck, Duane H. Keisler, William B. Collins, Donald E. Spalinger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lakehead University 2017-01-01
• Series: Alces : A Journal Devoted to the Biology and Management of Moose
• Subjects: Alces alces; ghrelin; hormones; HPG axis; IGF-1; leptin; moose; reproduction; season
• Online Access: http://alcesjournal.org/index.php/alces/article/view/170/257

The health status of animals may be inferred from the patterns of hormonal concentrations and other chemical characteristics in blood samples. Baseline endocrine data representing the nutritional and reproductive condition of moose are currently unknown. In this study, we examined the seasonal patterns of 3 nutritional hormones (leptin, ghrelin, insulin-like growth factor-1) in 3 captive, non-pregnant female moose (Alces alces) fed a maintenance diet from November to August. Plasma concentrations for leptin, ghrelin, and IGF-1 averaged 1.36 ± 0.81 ng/mL, 0.229 ± 0.110 ng/mL, and 114.0 ± 30.5 ng/mL, respectively; only ghrelin displayed a seasonal change. Plasma ghrelin concentration was significantly elevated (P < 0.001) during winter months suggesting it may be sensitive to seasonal changes and indicative of nutritional status.