Profile of gonadal hormones in the male and female Houbara Bustard during the year. - T. Mahmood, M.M. Ahmed, M.S. Nadeem. - Berkut. 13 (1). 2004. - P. 110-114.
The present study was undertaken to estimate the levels of reproductive hormones i. e: testosterone, estradiol and progesterone, to investigate the breeding biology of Houbara Bustard. The male and female birds were used from Houbara Research and Rehabilitation Center (HRRC) Rahim Yar Khan. The plasma blood samples of 5 male and 5 female birds were collected during non-breeding and breeding seasons. Then testosterone, estradiol and progesterone were measured by RIA (Radioimmunoassay). The results showed that there was no significant difference in the levels of testosterone during non-breeding and breeding seasons. The level of estradiol was lower during non-breeding season (9.70 ± 0.72 pg/ml) and higher during breeding season (14.35 ± 0.77 pg/ml) and there was a significant difference in the levels during non-breeding and breeding seasons (p < 0.01). There level of progesterone was higher during non-breeding season (0.72 ± 0.10 ng/ml) while it was lower during the breeding season (0.55 ± 0.10 ng/ml). Thus there was a significant difference in the values of progesterone during non-breeding and breeding seasons (p < 0.001). [English].
Key words: Pakistan, Houbara Bustard, Chlamydotis undulata, physiology, reproductive hormones.
Address: T. Mahmood, Department of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan.