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Short-term variations of plasma testosterone concentrations in the European badger (Meles meles)

Summary. Badgers were sampled once during the sexually inactive season (July–November) and during the breeding season (February–April) and testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay after separation by chromatography. Concentrations of both hormones were higher in the breeding than non-breeding season, but the mean ratio of testosterone to DHT was greater in the breeding (14) than in the non-breeding season (7). During the breeding season (March 1979) 18 adult male badgers were bled at 12-min intervals for 3 h over a period of 24 h. Testosterone concentrations were measured without chromatography. An episodic pattern of release was observed. All the animals exhibited peaks of large amplitude (1–30 ng/ml) which lasted for about 2 h. The great variability in mean testosterone values for each animal (1–13 ng/ml) could also have been due to differences in individual sexual status.