Abstract
In captive common marmoset groups, the reproductive inhibition observed in subordinate female seems to be a result of olfactory, visual and behavioral cues from the dominant female. However, few studies have examined the relationship among adult males living in the same social group. These studies have shown that reproductive failure among peer males seems to be based on hormonal and behavioral mechanisms. New insights on sexual strategies in primates have been shown using fecal steroids, but so far no information is available for common marmoset males. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of light-dark cycle, age and reproductive condition on the profile of fecal androgens in males living in the same family group. Feces were collected from six fathers and six sons for androgen determination during the light phase of the 24-h cycle for eight days randomly distributed over a 4-week period. Androgen levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay technique. Adult sons showed higher androgen levels (166.97 +/- 22.95 ng/g) than fathers (80.69 +/- 44.38 ng/g) and juveniles (49.06 +/- 23.15 ng/g; P < 0.05). No diurnal variation (P > 0.05) in fecal androgen profile was observed in adults or juveniles. No indication of androgen-mediated social competition between fathers and adult sons was demonstrable. These results provide basic information on fecal androgen profile useful to investigate the socioendocrinology of free-ranging common marmoset males and verify that, in contrast to daughters, the reproductive suppression of sons is not based on physiological inhibition of their gonads.
Highlights
Reproductive inhibition among females of the same social group is a common characteristic of species of the callithrichid family of New World primates (Callithrix jacchus [1,2], Saguinus oedipus [3,4], and S. fuscicollis [5])
No indication of androgen-mediated social competition between fathers and adult sons was demonstrable. These results provide basic information on fecal androgen profile useful to investigate the socioendocrinology of free-ranging common marmoset males and verify that, in contrast to daughters, the reproductive suppression of sons is not based on physiological inhibition of their gonads
Common marmoset males showed the same pattern of defecation as females [21], indicating that feces should be collected from marmosets at the beginning of the light phase of the 24-h cycle
Summary
Reproductive inhibition among females of the same social group is a common characteristic of species of the callithrichid family of New World primates (Callithrix jacchus [1,2], Saguinus oedipus [3,4], and S. fuscicollis [5]). In common marmosets, this inhibition seems to be a result of olfactory, visual and behavioral cues from dominant females toward subordinates. The escape from inhibition by subordinate females (daughters) was recorded in a monogamous wild group of common marmosets [12]
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