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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Urinary C-peptide of insulin as a non-invasive marker of energy balance in wild orangutans
Hormones and Behavior, Volume 53, No. 4, Year 2008
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Description
Assessment of energetic condition is a critical tool for behavioral and reproductive ecologists. However, accurate quantification of energy intake and expenditure is labor-intensive, and it can be problematic for field scientists to obtain regular data on individual animals. C-peptide, a polypeptide segment of the proinsulin molecule that is secreted along with insulin in an equimolar relationship, can be measured in urine, and thus offers a potential means for the non-invasive assessment of energy balance in wild animals. Here, we validate C-peptide for the quantification of energetic condition, with specific application to wild orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). We determined that application of urine to filter paper results in significantly lower C-peptide recoveries versus fresh samples. However, concentrations in filter paper samples were significantly correlated with fresh urine and were stable over various storage conditions and durations. We compared the C-peptide concentrations from wild orangutan urine samples with three independent measures of energetic condition: ketone bodies (urinalysis), caloric intake (nutritional biochemistry), and food availability (phenology). As expected, C-peptide concentrations were significantly lower in samples that tested positive for ketones in the field. Monthly average C-peptide concentrations of both male and female orangutans were significantly correlated with monthly determinations of energy intake and food availability. Therefore, we conclude that the collection and preservation of urine samples for C-peptide analysis are feasible under most field conditions and, in this species, presents a useful tool for assessing changes in energy balance. © 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Emery Thompson, Melissa
United States, Cambridge
Harvard University
Knott, Cheryl Denise
United States, Cambridge
Harvard University
Statistics
Citations: 97
Authors: 2
Affiliations: 1
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1016/j.yhbeh.2007.12.005
ISSN:
10956867
Research Areas
Food Security
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Male
Female