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).
Table of Contents
- 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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