Serum Levels of Cortisol and Testosterone in American Mink (Neogale Vison) Selected for Aggressive and Tame Behavior towards Humans

Pub Date : 2024-08-29 DOI:10.1134/s0022093024040136

E. Panova, S. Kalinina, V. Ilyukha, O. Trapezov, O. Balan, M. Nekrasova, M. Stepanova

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Abstract

Several molecules, including glucocorticoids (cortisol, corticosterone, etc.) and testosterone in mammals, are thought to be associated with tame/aggressive behaviour towards humans, but these relationships remain controversial. The American mink (Neogale vison) represents a model in the studies of physiological traits in aggressive and tame behavioral phenotypes. Given the seasonality in reproduction, fur moulting, and hormonal levels during the life cycle of mink and the reciprocal relationships between the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal and hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, it is necessary to study the levels of cortisol and testosterone in the behavioral phenotypes of the animals in various seasons. Of particular interest is the period after the breeding season (late March—early April), when the level of androgens decreases. The aim of the study was to characterize the neuroendocrine physiological phenotypes associated with aggressive and tame behaviors by measuring the levels of cortisol (basal level) and testosterone in the blood serum of American mink at the end of the breeding season. Blood samples were taken from animals selectively bred for tame and aggressive defensive reaction towards humans at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia. No differences were found in serum levels of cortisol and testosterone between aggressive and tame mink. We found a significant negative relationship between the studied hormones in tame mink. Thus, selection of American mink for either aggressive or emotionally positive responses to humans does not appear to be associated with changes in the levels of the hormones studied at the end of the breeding season.

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美国水貂（Neogale Vison）血清中的皮质醇和睾酮水平（针对对人类的攻击和驯服行为进行选择

摘要包括哺乳动物中的糖皮质激素（皮质醇、皮质酮等）和睾酮在内的一些分子被认为与驯服/攻击人类的行为有关，但这些关系仍然存在争议。美洲水貂（Neogalevison）是研究攻击性和驯服行为表型中生理特征的典范。鉴于水貂的繁殖、换毛和生命周期中激素水平的季节性以及下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴和下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴之间的相互关系，有必要研究不同季节动物行为表型中的皮质醇和睾酮水平。特别值得关注的是繁殖季节后（3 月底至 4 月初），此时雄激素水平下降。本研究的目的是通过测定美洲水貂繁殖季节结束时血清中的皮质醇（基础水平）和睾酮水平，描述与攻击性和驯服行为相关的神经内分泌生理表型。血样取自俄罗斯新西伯利亚细胞学和遗传学研究所选育的对人有驯服和攻击性防御反应的动物。攻击性水貂和驯服性水貂的血清皮质醇和睾酮水平没有差异。我们发现，在驯化水貂体内，所研究的激素之间存在明显的负相关关系。因此，选择美洲水貂对人类做出攻击性或积极的情绪反应似乎与繁殖季节结束时所研究的激素水平变化无关。

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