SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF STEROIDS AND HEMATHOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN WATER MOLE (DESMANA MOSCHATA)

摘要

The Russian-water mole (Desmana moschata L.) is one of the most endangered and threatened species, which does not reproduce in captivity. The physiological and behavioral features of reproductive biology of this species have been studied very poorly. The seasonal dynamics of the level of sexual steroids and hematological parameters were estimated in an adult male and female of the water mole. The study was conducted at the Experimental Station "Chernogolovka" of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. Serum samples were analyzed for testosterone, androstenedione, progesterone, and estradiol using the EIA system. Hematological parameters were estimated on blood stains. The diameter of erythrocytes in water moles was large (8.4 pm) and similar to that in species living under the low oxygen level. The seasonal fluctuations of hematological parameters in the female reflected pathological changes which could be determined using chronical antigenic stimulation. The ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (N : L) was biased to the high percent of neutrophils and comparable with the ratio in closely related species. The mean values of the ratio varied from 1.8 to 2.0 during a year. The total leukocyte number was two times higher (17.8 +/- 4.5 x 10(9)/L) than in closely-related species. The total leukocyte number and N : L in the male changed by seasons. The mean values of these parameters increased in spring and autumn shortly before the increase of the testosterone level. The analysis of the hormone profiles obtained for the male and female confirms the earlier results on the reproductive features of water mole in the wild and supposes two peaks of the reproductive activity of this species in spring and autumn.