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Horm Behav

Title:		Seasonal covariation in progesterone and odorant emissions among breeding crested auklets (Aethia cristatella)
Author(s):		Douglas HD; Kitaysky AS; Kitaiskaia EV;
Address:		"Biology Department, Kuskokwim Campus, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bethel, Alaska 99559, USA. hddouglas@gmail.com"
Journal Title:		Horm Behav
Year:		2008
Volume:		20080325
Issue:		2
Page Number:		325 - 329
DOI:		10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.03.003
ISSN/ISBN:		1095-6867 (Electronic) 0018-506X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Crested auklets emit a citrus-like odorant that is seasonally modulated, suggesting that it is a secondary sexual trait. We hypothesized that expression of the chemical odorant is facilitated by steroid hormones, similar other secondary sexual traits in birds. Therefore we examined variation in concentrations of hormones in blood plasma and odor production during incubation and early chick rearing. A novel method was used to obtain and measure chemical emissions of crested auklets. Blood plasma samples were analyzed by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone was detected in all birds, and it varied during the breeding season. Octanal emissions covaried with progesterone levels in males but not in females. No seasonal patterns were detected in testosterone, estrogen or DHT, and these hormones were not detected in all breeding adults. Covariance of progesterone and octanal emissions in males suggests there could be at least an indirect relationship between odor emissions and steroid hormones in this species. Thus expression of the citrus-like odorant of crested auklets, like other secondary sexual traits in birds, could be regulated by steroid hormones"
Keywords:		"Aldehydes/metabolism Animals Charadriiformes/blood/metabolism/*physiology Female Male *Odorants Progesterone/*blood/metabolism *Seasons Sex Attractants/metabolism Sex Characteristics Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology Social Behavior;"
Notes:		"MedlineDouglas, Hector D 3rd Kitaysky, Alexander S Kitaiskaia, Evgenia V eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/05/01 Horm Behav. 2008 Aug; 54(2):325-9. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.03.003. Epub 2008 Mar 25"