Seasonal reproductive endocrine profiles in two wild mammals: the red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) and the European badger (Meles meles L.) considered as short-day mammals.

Abstract

The annual cycle of the testicular function (testis and epididymis weights and plasma testosterone levels) were considered in relation to seasonal variations in plasma LH and prolactin concentrations in two wild European mammals: the badger and the fox. Phase relationships were established between the annual prolactin cycles and daylight duration. The influence of castration on the seasonal variations in plasma LH levels was also studied. The resumption of activity in the testicular function occurs during autumn for both species. The reproduction period begins in winter but it is over by the beginning of spring for the fox whereas for the badger it lasts until early summer. In the same way, the annual cycle of the gonadotrophic function which, in the fox, presents only one maximum at the end of autumn, is bimodal in the badger with one maximum in January and a second in June. On the other hand, both species have a similar annual prolactin cycle, which shows an increase from the winter solstice onwards, in synchronization with the increase in daily light duration. The highest prolactin levels are measured in spring followed by a decrease during summer. This result calls into question the role played by prolactin in the regulation of the testicular function in as far as the two species have an annual reproductive cycle of the 'short-day' type (onset of activity occurring before the winter solstice) but show seasonal prolactin variations similar to those described for 'long-day' species.