圈養雌性台灣黑熊繁殖內分泌季節性變化之初探

Seasonal Changes in Reproductive Hormones of Female Formosan Black Bears (Ursus thibetanus formosanus) in Captivity

Seasonal changes in serum reproductive hormones of three female Formosan black bears ( Ursus thibetanus formosanus) in captivity were studied monthly from April 2001 and May 2003 at the Low Altitude Experimental Station of Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute. The LH concentration was significantly higher (ANOVA, p< 0.05) in spring than those in other three seasons, but no significant seasonal differences ( p > 0.05) were found for the concentrations of FSH, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone. Also, there were significantly positive correlations in concentrations between FSH and progesterone, between LH and estradiol, between LH and progesterone, and between estradiol and progesterone. The female Formosan black bears seem to be capable for breeding all the year round, but spring is the major mating season. The results of this study provide important reproductive information useful for the preservation of the Formosan black bear.本實驗為從2001年4月起至2003年5月，針對季節性影響圈養在特有生物研究保育中心低海拔試驗站之三隻台灣黑熊繁殖內分泌所做的研究。結果發現四季血清中激濾泡素（FSH）、泌乳素（prolactin）、雌二醇（estradiol）及助孕素（progesterone）濃度無顯著的差異（p > 0.05）。但血清中排卵素（LH）濃度在春季是最高且具有顯著差異（p < 0.05）。此外，在雌性台灣黑熊的血清激濾泡素和助孕素、排卵素和雌二醇、排卵素和助孕素及雌二醇和助孕素間存有正相關關係。由結果可發現台灣黑熊為全年均可繁殖，而春季為主要的發情交配季節。本研究成果提供關於台灣黑熊重要的繁殖資訊，希望能作為台灣黑熊保育的參考。