Urinary 3-methylhistidine and Progressive Winter Undernutrition in White-tailed Deer

by

Glenn D. DelGiudice ¹, Ken D. Kerr ², L. David Mech ³,
Michael R. Riggs ⁴, and Ulysses S. Seal ⁵

Abstract: Physiological indicators of muscle catabolism would aid assessment of winter nutritional restriction of ungulates, and urinary 3-methylhistidine has exhibited potential in this regard in several species. We examined the effect of chronic moderate and severe nutritional restriction during winter on ratios of urinary 3-methylhistidine:creatinine of seven, adult white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and the relationship of these ratios to urinary urea nitrogen:creatinine ratios. Mean baseline estimates of urinary 3-methylhistidine: creatinine for the control and severely restricted deer (0.043 and 0.086 µmol:mg, respectively) were similar (P = 0.280), and remained unchanged in the control deer throughout the study. In contrast, mean 3-methylhistidine:creatinine values increased dramatically as nutritional restriction and cumulative mass loss progressed; the quadratic component of the chronically restricted deer's data was significant (P < 0.001). Likewise, there was a strong curvilinear relation (R² = 0.82) between cumulative mass loss (up to 29%) of the pooled deer and urinary 3-methylhistidine: creatinine ratios. Further, urinary urea nitrogen:creatinine ratios were strongly related to 3-methylhistidine:creatinine ratios (r² = 0.89). Our study indicates that further investigation of 3-methylhistidine as an indicator of physical condition and muscle protein breakdown is warranted.

This resource is based on the following source:

DelGuidice, Glenn D., Ken D. Kerr, L. David Mech, Michael R. Riggs, and 
     Ulysses S. Seal.  1998.  Urinary 3-methylhistidine and Progressive
     Winter Undernutrition in White-tailed Deer.  Canadian Journal of Zoology
     76:2090-2095.

This resource should be cited as:

DelGuidice, Glenn D., Ken D. Kerr, L. David Mech, Michael R. Riggs, and 
     Ulysses S. Seal.  1998.  Urinary 3-methylhistidine and Progressive 
     Winter Undernutrition in White-tailed Deer.  Canadian Journal of Zoology 
     76:2090-2095. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 
     Online.  http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/mammals/wtdeer/index.htm  
     (Version 18NOV99).

Introduction
Materials and Methods
- Experimental Design and Data Collection
- Laboratory and Statistical Analyses
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgements
Literature Cited
Figure Legends
Table 1

¹Forest Wildlife Populations and Research Group, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, and Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, U.S.A.
²Forest Wildlife Populations and Research Group, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, U.S.A.
³MidContinent Ecological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO 80525, U.S.A.
Mailing address: North Central Forest Experiment Station, 1992 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108, U.S.A.
⁴Section of Wildlife, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area, Forest Lake, MN 55025, U.S.A.
⁵Captive Breeding Specialist Group, World Conservation Union, Minnesota Zoological Gardens, Apple Valley, MN 55124, U.S.A.

Correspond to:
Glenn D. DelGiudice
Forest Wildlife Populations & Research Group
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
1201 East Hwy. 2
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (218)-327-4432
Fax: (218)-327-4181
e-mail: glenn.delgiudice@dnr.state.mn.us

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Urinary 3-methylhistidine and Progressive Winter Undernutrition in White-tailed Deer

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