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Physiological and analytical validations of fecal steroid hormone measures in black howler monkeys

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Abstract

The measurement of hormones in fecal samples allows for the noninvasive assessment of the endocrine status of free-ranging primates. However, procedures and techniques for hormone analysis in feces must be validated, both analytically and physiologically. Few studies have addressed the endocrinology of black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra). Due to its conservation status, direct handling of individuals from this species and invasive sample collection are highly regulated, and therefore traditional methods for the validation of hormone assays, such as pharmacological challenges, are not allowed. As a consequence, sometimes studies of the fecal hormones of free-ranging black howler monkeys do not report physiological validations and therefore the biological reliability of such measurements cannot be assessed. In order to stimulate future research with this species, the present study aimed at providing methodological bases for fecal endocrine monitoring. Specifically, we compared the validity of two immunoassays (radioimmunoassays, RIA; solid-phase chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay, SPCEI) performed with commercial kits to measure cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone; and demonstrate how the physiological functions of these steroid hormones can be determined through non-pharmacological validations. We found no differences between the analytical validity of RIA and SPCEI assays to measure cortisol and testosterone, whereas for estradiol and progesterone RIA showed better results. Concerning the physiological validation of our assays, we demonstrated that: (1) comparisons between pre- and post-stress situations may be used to assess cortisol response, (2) comparisons between females and males may be used to assess variation in testosterone levels, and (3) comparisons between pregnant and non-pregnant females may be used to determine variation in estradiol and progesterone activity. The analytical and physiological validations that we performed demonstrate that there are currently commercial kits that allow for correct endocrine monitoring of this species, and that there are non-pharmacological alternatives to assess the biological validity of hormone measurements.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to all field assistants for their dedicated work, in particular to A. Coyohua; to the personnel of the Instituto de Neuroetología that collaborated in the capture of animals; and to S. Cruz–Sanchez, A. Trigos, and L. Boeck for support during laboratory work. J. Beehner and C. M. Schaffner, an Associate Editor of the journal and a reviewer provided very useful comments on previous versions of the manuscript. This study was supported by CFE (RGCPTTP-UV-001/04), Universidad Veracruzana, Conacyt (grant number: 235839, i010/458/2013 & C‐703/2013), and Idea Wild. Our research complied with the Mexican law and with the Guidelines for the Treatment of Animals in Behavioral Research and Teaching from the Animal Behavior Society.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, Av. Dr. Luis Castelazo Ayala S/N, Industrial Animas, 91190, Xalapa, Mexico

    Ariadna Rangel-Negrín, Domingo Canales-Espinosa & Pedro Américo D. Dias

  2. Doctorado en Biodiversidad, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    Elizabeth Flores-Escobar

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000, Zubirán, Mexico

    Roberto Chavira

Authors
  1. Ariadna Rangel-Negrín
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  2. Elizabeth Flores-Escobar
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  3. Roberto Chavira
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  4. Domingo Canales-Espinosa
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  5. Pedro Américo D. Dias
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ariadna Rangel-Negrín.

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Rangel-Negrín, A., Flores-Escobar, E., Chavira, R. et al. Physiological and analytical validations of fecal steroid hormone measures in black howler monkeys. Primates 55, 459–465 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-014-0432-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-014-0432-4

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