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Steroid hormones in multiple tissues of East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

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Abstract

The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is threatened by climate changes and also from persistent organic pollutants affecting polar bear endocrinology governing growth and reproduction. To provide further insight into basic polar bear endocrinology, we determined the levels of steroids in multiple tissues and plasma from East Greenland polar bears. Tissue samples from 10 polar bears, 5 males (2 adults, 3 juveniles) and 5 females (all juveniles) were obtained from the Inuit hunt in Scoresby Sound during springtime. Eleven steroids: pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrone, 17α-estradiol and 17β-estradiol were determined in brain, adrenal cortex, testis, testicular vein, plasma, and ovary using GC–MS/MS. In brain tissue, the neuroactive progestagen pregnenolone (11.9 ± 4.4 ng/g ww) and dehydroepiandrosterone (2.26 ± 0.43 ng/g ww) were found in high concentrations. Very high levels of testosterone and androstenedione were observed in testes (>100 ng/g ww) and plasma from testicular vein (testosterone: 108 ± 41 ng/ml; androstenedione: 35.2 ± 11.1 ng/ml). Additionally, a strong correlation was found between the levels of steroids in testes and testicular vein plasma. Progestagens were found in very high levels in ovaries from juvenile females (>100 ng/g ww). Finally, our study indicates that polar bears synthesize androstenedione via the ∆-4 pathway. The present study adds new insight to our knowledge on polar bear endocrinology, which may be used in future studies on polar bear ecology and studies on some of the threats from pollution and climate changes that these animals are facing.

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Acknowledgments

Samples were collected in collaboration with local Inuit subsistence hunters and funded by a number of projects under the Danish Cooperation for Environment in the Arctic (DANCEA) programme including the ARCTIC, PELATES and the CORE programmes. We would also like to thank Phia Hansen for graphic layout and the AURORAE Field Crew for assistance during field work.

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Author notes

  1. Erland Björklund

    Present address: Division of Natural Sciences, School of Education and Environment, Kristianstad University, 291 88, Kristianstad, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    Bjarne Styrishave, Kathrine Eggers Pedersen, Olivier Clarke, Martin Hansen & Erland Björklund

  2. Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Science and Technology, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark

    Christian Sonne & Rune Dietz

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  1. Bjarne Styrishave
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  2. Kathrine Eggers Pedersen
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  3. Olivier Clarke
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  4. Martin Hansen
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  5. Erland Björklund
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  7. Rune Dietz
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Correspondence to Bjarne Styrishave.

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Styrishave, B., Pedersen, K.E., Clarke, O. et al. Steroid hormones in multiple tissues of East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Polar Biol 40, 37–49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-016-1922-1

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