Author ORCID Identifier
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-19-2016
Publication Title
American Journal of Primatology
Volume
79
First Page
1
Last Page
12
Abstract
The timing of reproductive maturation is susceptible to hormonal and environmental influences, and variation in this timing can be partially attributed to the prenatal and post-natal environment. We examined associations between prenatal steroid exposure and the post-natal family environment on the variability in reproductive maturation timing in young marmosets (Callithrix geoffroyi). Urine samples from pregnant females were analyzed for cortisol (CORT) and androgens (uA). Post-natal uA was measured in males to determine age (in days) of adult-like levels of androgens associated with spermatogenesis; post-natal pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) was measured in females to determine age (in days) of first ovulation. Maternal, paternal, alloparental, and total care (carrying, grooming, and rejection/removals) of offspring were observed. Female offspring exposed to lower prenatal uA levels and higher paternal grooming and lower maternal rejection/removals showed later first ovulation, whereas female offspring exposed to higher prenatal uA showed earlier first ovulation. Male offspring showed earlier reproductive maturation as paternal grooming increased, regardless of first trimester uA exposure. Male offspring exposed to low prenatal uA levels showed earlier reproductive maturation as maternal rejections/removals increased. In offspring exposed to low prenatal CORT, high total carrying predicted earlier first ovulation in females, but later reproductive maturation in males. Total carrying duration did not affect timing of reproductive maturation in offspring exposed to high third trimester CORT levels. Our findings expand the evolutionary theory of socialization by demonstrating that the effect of post-natal family environment on timing of reproductive maturation depends on prenatal uA exposure and also influences reproductive maturation timing in male offspring.
Recommended Citation
Huffman MC, Santo JB, and French JA. Prenatal androgen exposure and parental care interact to influence timing of reproductive maturation in marmosets. Am J Primatol. 2017; 79:e22588. doi:10.1002/ajp.22588.
Comments
"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Huffman MC, Santo JB, and French JA. Prenatal androgen exposure and parental care interact to influence timing of reproductive maturation in marmosets. Am J Primatol. 2017, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22588 . This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited."
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