Plasma concentrations of testosterone and luteinizing hormone in rutting reindeer bulls (Rangifer tarandrus)

Concentrations of plasma testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured in peripheral plasma from semidomestic, rutting reindeer bulls. Although the concentrations of plasma testosterone were high and showed large variations, those of LH were low and only a few episodic bursts could be detected in hourly samples taken throughout a 48-h period. The mean testosterone concentration in three bulls differed significantly and ranked the animals according to their position in a fighting hierarchy. The mean concentrations of LH did not differ significantly. Plasma samples from one reindeer bull sampled every 20 min for periods of 3 h indicated that an increment in LH concentration preceded a peak in testosterone. No diurnal pattern in testosterone concentrations could be detected, but testosterone peaks seemed to appear about every 3–4 h. The present study thus demonstrates that a series of plasma samples throughout the day is necessary to determine a true "testosterone level" in the reindeer bull.