1
|
Fernández D, Doran-Sheehy D, Borries C, Ehardt CL. Exaggerated Sexual Swellings and the Probability of Conception in Wild Sanje Mangabeys ( Cercocebus sanjei). INT J PRIMATOL 2017; 38:513-532. [PMID: 28680189 PMCID: PMC5487806 DOI: 10.1007/s10764-017-9961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Females of several catarrhine primate species exhibit exaggerated sexual swellings that change in size and coloration during the menstrual cycle and, in some species, gestation. Although their function remains under debate, studies indicate that swellings may contain information males could use to discern ovulation and the probability that a cycle will be conceptive. Here we combine visual ratings of swellings with hormonal data for a group of Sanje mangabeys (18 adult, 3 adolescent females) to determine if their swellings provide reliable information on female fertility. In all cases where ovulation was detected (N = 7), it occurred during maximum tumescence, and in 83.3% during the first two days of the "shiny phase," a period during maximum tumescence when the swelling was brightest. There were no significant differences in maximum tumescence and shiny phase duration among cycles of different probability of conception, although there was a trend toward conceptive cycles exhibiting shorter shiny phases than nonconceptive ones. Only 25% (N = 4) of postconceptive swellings developed the shiny phase, and adolescents displayed the longest maximum tumescence and shiny phases. The conspicuous nature of the shiny phase and the frequent overlap between its onset and ovulation suggest that its presence serves as a general signal of ovulation and that the cycle has a high probability of being conceptive. It also suggests that swellings in some Sanje mangabeys are more accurate signals of fertility than in other primates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Fernández
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, BS16 1QY UK
| | - Diane Doran-Sheehy
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
| | - Carola Borries
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794 USA
| | - Carolyn L. Ehardt
- Department of Anthropology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249 USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Street SE, Cross CP, Brown GR. Exaggerated sexual swellings in female nonhuman primates are reliable signals of female fertility and body condition. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
|
3
|
Cappelletti M, Ethun K, Meeker T, Von Scherr G, Wallen K. Early adolescent Depo-Provera exposure increases stillbirths in adult sooty mangabeys. Reproduction 2015; 150:497-505. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The 3-month injectable contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA; Depo-Provera) is a synthetic progestin that protects against pregnancy by suppressing ovulation. Studies have focused on the resumption of ovulation after MPA-treatment cessation but neglected potential long-term effects of MPA exposure on future successful reproduction. MPA is frequently administered to adolescent girls; however, long-term fertility effects of adolescent MPA exposure have not been explored. We investigated fertility after extended MPA exposure in a species of old world primate, the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys). Female sooty mangabeys (n=31) received chronic MPA-treatment for 4–8 years. At MPA-treatment onset, subjects were either parous adults (n=14) or nulliparous adolescents (n=17), with adolescent-treated subjects being further divided into those who had reached first ovulation (n=10) and those who had not (n=7). After MPA-treatment cessation, adolescent-treated females had a significantly higher incidence of stillbirth than did age-matched and parity-matched controls, whereas adult-treated females did not differ from their matched controls. Females placed on MPA-treatment prior to first ovulation had a significantly higher incidence of stillbirth post-treatment than did females placed on MPA-treatment after first ovulation. Diabetic females had an increased incidence of stillbirth as compared to nondiabetic females; however, when controlling for diabetes, MPA exposure prior to first ovulation was still a significant positive predictor of stillbirth. These findings suggest that the post-treatment fertility effects of chronic MPA exposure vary with the developmental timing of treatment onset and raise concern about the use of MPA as a contraceptive for adolescent girls.
Collapse
|
4
|
Fernández D, Doran-Sheehy D, Borries C, Brown JL. Reproductive characteristics of wild Sanje mangabeys (Cercocebus sanjei). Am J Primatol 2014; 76:1163-74. [PMID: 24842495 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2013] [Revised: 03/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
An accurate description of reproductive characteristics and ovarian endocrinology is necessary to address questions about the reproductive strategies and life history of a species and for meaningful, cross species analyses. Here we used analysis of fecal estradiol (fE) and behavioral observations to determine for the first time the reproductive characteristics and endocrinology of a wild group (N = 18 adult and 3 adolescent females) of Sanje mangabeys (Cercocebus sanjei). The study was conducted in the Udzungwa Mountains National Park, Tanzania, from October 2008 through September 2010. Average cycle length (±SD) was 29.3 ± 3.2 days in adults and 51.4 ± 5.5 days in adolescents. Menses appeared within 5.1 ± 2.1 days in adults and 4.8 ± 0.3 days in adolescents after the end of maximum tumescence, and lasted 6.7 ± 3.1 and 10.3 ± 5.0 days, respectively. Infant death tended to reduce the number of cycles to conception (4.3 ± 1.5 cycles after a surviving infant vs. 2.6 ± 1.0 cycles after infant death). Adolescents cycled for at least 16 months without conceiving. Implantation bleeding began 17.5 ± 0.7 days from the onset of detumescence, and lasted 10.0 ± 1.4 days. Gestation length averaged 171.8 ± 3.4 days. Postpartum amenorrhea lasted 6.7 ± 2.3 months while females whose infants had died resumed cycling within 14.3 ± 5.9 days. The interbirth interval after a surviving infant averaged 20.0 ± 4.3 months. These reproductive characteristics of the Sanje mangabey resembled those of other mangabeys and related cercopithecines, with the exception of an earlier onset and longer duration of menstruation and implantation bleeding. Further information on the physiology of the Sanje mangabey is needed to clarify what factors may cause the unusual characteristics of both, their menses and implantation bleeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Fernández
- Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Trisomboon H, Malaivijitnond S, Cherdshewasart W, Watanabe G, Taya K. Effect of Pueraria mirifica on the Sexual Skin Coloration of Aged Menopausal Cynomolgus Monkeys. J Reprod Dev 2006; 52:537-42. [PMID: 16799265 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.18019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate the estrogenic effect of Pueraria mirifica (PM), a Thai herbal plant that contains many phytoestrogens, sexual skin coloration was studied in cynomolgus monkeys. Aged menopausal monkeys were divided into three groups. Each group (n=3) was fed 10, 100, or 1,000 mg of PM daily. The treatment schedule was divided into three periods, a 30-day pre-treatment period, 90-day treatment period, and 60-day post-treatment period. The results show that the sexual skin exhibited reddish coloration within 24 h after PM-treatment and remained this way for the first half of the PM-feeding period. The changes in sexual skin coloration were not dose-dependent. The present results indicate that PM had estrogenic action by increasing reddish sexual skin coloration in aged menopausal monkeys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hataitip Trisomboon
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Barnett DK, Abbott DH. Reproductive adaptations to a large-brained fetus open a vulnerability to anovulation similar to polycystic ovary syndrome. Am J Hum Biol 2003; 15:296-319. [PMID: 12704707 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.10149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
During the ovarian or menstrual cycle, prior to ovulation, many female primates exhibit a relatively prolonged follicular phase and terminate the postovulatory luteal phase with menstrual bleeding. The prolonged follicular phase is a trait that distinguishes primate from nonprimate species. It enables extended estrogen-induced proliferation and growth of the uterine endometrium prior to progesterone-induced maturation during the luteal phase to accommodate a potential pregnancy with a rapidly invading placenta. Progressive development of both an extended duration of estrogen-induced, preimplantation endometrial proliferation and a rapidly invading placenta across the Primate order may well have been necessary to accommodate differentiation and growth of an increasingly large fetal brain. Prolongation of the follicular phase in primates has also led to the isolation of the final stages of follicle selection (growth deviation of the dominant follicle from its contemporaries) solely within the follicular phase and thus outside the protection of luteal phase progesterone inhibition of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Such primate reproductive characteristics put the latter stages of ovarian follicle selection at risk of exposure to excessive pituitary secretion of LH. Excessive secretion of LH during follicle selection could result not only in impaired follicle development, excessive ovarian androgen secretion, and ovulation failure, but also in excessive estrogenic stimulation of the uterine endometrium without intervening menstrual periods. Such reproductive abnormalities are all found in a single, prevalent infertility syndrome afflicting women in their reproductive years: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We propose that successful female reproductive adaptations to accommodate the growth demands of large-brained primate fetuses have facilitated a particular vulnerability of higher primates to hypergonadotropic disruption of ovulatory function, as found in PCOS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah K Barnett
- Wisconsin Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53715, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Aujard F, Heistermann M, Thierry B, Hodges JK. Functional significance of behavioral, morphological, and endocrine correlates across the ovarian cycle in semifree ranging female Tonkean macaques. Am J Primatol 2000; 46:285-309. [PMID: 9839903 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2345(1998)46:4<285::aid-ajp2>3.0.co;2-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The role of sexual displays in mating strategies and their reliability in indicating the time of ovulation has given rise to multiple explanations in nonhuman primates. In order to discriminate among hypotheses, socio-sexual behaviors were recorded in a semifree ranging group of Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana), together with sexual skin swelling volumes and measurements of urinary concentrations of estrone conjugates and pregnanediol glucuronide. A clear preovulatory peak of urinary estrogen levels occurred 2 days before a defined rise in pregnanediol glucuronide concentrations, indicating that both hormones pointed out the female's ovulatory period. The concept of estrus rightly could be applied to female Tonkean macaques since fluctuations in estrogen levels correlated with cyclic changes in genital swelling sizes and rates of female behavioral attractivity and proceptivity. Males proved to be capable of recognizing the optimal conception period as judged from the occurrence of maximal rates of following behavior, serial matings, and ejaculations during the peri-ovulatory phase. During this time, males succeeded in maintaining exclusive and enduring associations with females. However, consortships occurred precociously, with males starting to affiliate with females, follow, and mount them 1 week before the presumed time of ovulation. These long-lasting consortships appear to be a consequence of the female extended follicular phase. This presumably sexually selected character allowed females to extend conspicuous sexual displays: genital swelling and utterance of an estrous call, which might attract males' attention and arouse them. With regard to female mating tactics, the combination of reliably indicating the time of ovulation to the male and durable periods of competitor exclusion led to reject explanations assuming manipulation about paternity or long-lasting intermale competition incitement in Tonkean macaques. Competition for mates between females also turned out to be an irrelevant factor as it was very low in the species. We conclude that the main function of sexual displays is to herald the approach of ovulation toward available mates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Aujard
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie Générale, MNHN/CNRS URA 1183, Brunoy, France
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Aujard F, Heistermann M, Thierry B, Hodges JK. Functional significance of behavioral, morphological, and endocrine correlates across the ovarian cycle in semifree ranging female Tonkean macaques. Am J Primatol 1998. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2345(1998)46:4%3c285::aid-ajp2%3e3.0.co;2-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
|
9
|
Whitten PL, Russell E. Information content of sexual swellings and fecal steroids in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus torquatus atys). Am J Primatol 1996; 40:67-82. [DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2345(1996)40:1<67::aid-ajp5>3.0.co;2-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/1995] [Accepted: 03/05/1996] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
10
|
Gust DA. Alpha-male sooty mangabeys differentiate between females’ fertile and their postconception maximal swellings. INT J PRIMATOL 1994. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02735278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
11
|
Coe CL, Savage A, Bromley LJ. Phylogenetic influences on hormone levels across the primate order. Am J Primatol 1992; 28:81-100. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.1350280202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/1990] [Revised: 01/11/1992] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|
12
|
Hormones and sexual behavior associated with postconception perineal swelling in the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus atys). INT J PRIMATOL 1991. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02547671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
13
|
Fischer L, Germain G, Florence G, Milhaud C. Changes in Electrical Impedance of the Vaginal Medium During the Menstrual Cycle of Female Rhesus Monkeys
(Macaca mulatto). J Med Primatol 1990. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0684.1990.tb00464.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Fischer
- Ministère de la DéfenseCentre d'Études et de Recherches de Médecine AérospatialeParisFrance
| | - G. Germain
- Clinique Universitaire BaudeloqueINSERM U.262ParisFrance
| | - G. Florence
- Ministère de la DéfenseCentre d'Études et de Recherches de Médecine AérospatialeParisFrance
| | - C. Milhaud
- Ministère de la DéfenseCentre d'Études et de Recherches de Médecine AérospatialeParisFrance
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Gust DA, Busse CD, Gordon TP. Reproductive parameters in the sooty mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus atys). Am J Primatol 1990; 22:241-250. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.1350220404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/1990] [Accepted: 06/21/1990] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
15
|
Calle PP, Chaudhuri M, Bowen R. Menstrual cycle characterization and artificial insemination in the black mangabey (Cercocebus aterrimus). Zoo Biol 1990. [DOI: 10.1002/zoo.1430090103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
|
16
|
|
17
|
Mitchell G, Soteriou S, Towers S, Kenney L, Schumer C. Descriptive accounts of the behavior of breeding and nonbreeding pairs of golden-bellied mangabeys (Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster). Zoo Biol 1987. [DOI: 10.1002/zoo.1430060413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
|
18
|
Busse CD, Gordon TP. Attacks on neonates by a male mangabey (Cercocebus atys). Am J Primatol 1983; 5:345-356. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.1350050404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/1983] [Revised: 07/29/1983] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|