Hormonal profile of Mediterranean green turtles Chelonia mydas

Abstract

The beaches of Turkey are important nesting habitats of Chelonia mydas sea turtles and the determination of their health and disease status is critical in sustaining healthy populations. Limited data currently exist on the hormone values required to determine the status of reproductive capabilities of sea turtles. This study aimed to collect basic data regarding their hormonal profile and set reference limits for the Mediterranean population. Forty-nine free-ranging C. mydas sea turtles were used in the study and were classified into 3 groups according to their age hatchlings, juvenile, adult . Adult turtles were also grouped according to sex. Adult females were further divided into 3 seasonal groups summer, spring, and autumn , based on the dates of blood sampling. Plasma testosterone, oestradiol, progesterone, thyroxine T4 , triiodothyronine T3 , thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH , cortisol, and corticosterone levels were determined by ELISA method. Significantly higher levels were observed in oestrogen P