Seasonal changes in follicle-stimulating hormone in a breeding population of barheaded geese, Anser indicus

• Published in: General and comparative endocrinology Vol. 57; no. 2; p. 195
• Main Authors: Dittami, J P, Goldsmith, A R, Follett, B K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-1985
• Subjects: Animals; Breeding; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - physiology; Geese - physiology; Male; Seasons
• ISSN: 0016-6480
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-6480(85)90263-1

Changes in the plasma titers of follicle-stimulating hormone were investigated in a free-living population of barheaded geese over the whole year. Adult males had pronounced seasonal changes from prebreeding levels of approximately equal to 20 ng/ml to a peak in the breeding season of about 300 ng/ml. Changes in females were only slight. An increase from nondetectable, approximately equal to 20 ng/ml to a mean of 32.2 ng/ml before egg-laying was found. The data are discussed with regard to the literature on free-living species and the previously published data on LH and testosterone levels in the same birds.