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Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

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Abstract

The polar bear is an iconic Arctic species, threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as pollution and climate change. Successful reproduction of polar bears depends on a functioning steroid hormone system, which is susceptible to effects of persistent organic pollutants. The present study is the first study to report circulating concentrations of nine steroid hormones (i.e., estrogens, androgens and progestagens) in female polar bears (Ursus maritimus). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of age, condition, location and reproductive status on steroid profile in female polar bears. Levels of pregnenolone (PRE), progesterone, androstenedione (AN), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone (E1), 17α-estradiol (αE2) and 17β-estradiol (βE2) were quantified in blood (serum) of free-living female polar bears (n = 15) from Svalbard, Norway, by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Concentrations of androgens, estrogens and progestagens were in the range of 0.02–166, 0.01–1.49 and 0.16–17.1 nmol/L, respectively. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between E1 and DHEA, and a positive correlation between E1 and βE2. Additionally, negative relationships were found between body mass and cholesterol, contour body length and cholesterol, and head length and PRE, while a positive relationship was found between PRE and cholesterol. The steroid profile suggests that AN and the sex steroids are primarily synthesized through the Δ-4 pathway in polar bears, similar to rodents. The large individual variability in steroid levels reported here most likely reflects the differences in reproductive status of the female polar bears during mating season. The steroid data establish reference values of steroid hormones and may be applied in further studies on polar bears endocrine system and anthropogenic threats to polar bear reproduction.

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Acknowledgments

The study is part of the International Polar Year (IPY) project BearHealth (IPY 2007-2008 Activity #134) and is funded by The Research Council of Norway (Project No. 175989). We thank Magnus Andersen (NPI) and the crew of R/V Lance for their assistance with fieldwork.

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  1. Jenny Bytingsvik

    Present address: Fram Centre, Akvaplan-niva AS, 9296, Tromsø, Norway

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491, Trondheim, Norway

    Lisa Gustavson, Bjørn Munro Jenssen, Jenny Bytingsvik, Grethe S. Eggen & Tomasz M. Ciesielski

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Bjarne Styrishave & Martin Hansen

  3. Fram Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI), 9296, Tromsø, Norway

    Jon Aars

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  1. Lisa Gustavson
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Gustavson, L., Jenssen, B.M., Bytingsvik, J. et al. Steroid hormone profile in female polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Polar Biol 38, 1183–1194 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-015-1682-3

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