Testosterone-related and seasonal changes in sebaceous glands in the back skin of adult male brown bears (Ursusarctos)

Abstract

Adult male brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758) display tree-marking behavior to chemically signal their dominance throughout the nondenning period, and this behavior peaks during the breeding season. Within the scent-marking sequence, back rub is a core marking posture. The present study investigated (i) seasonal changes in sebaceous glands in the back skin of brown bears and (ii) the relationship between those changes and testosterone levels. Back skin tissue samples and blood were collected from captive adult intact and castrated males during prebreeding, transitional, breeding, and postbreeding seasons, which were concurrent with back skin observations. In intact males, during the transitional and breeding seasons, an oily secretion from the back skin was observed along with enlarged sebaceous glands. The plasma testosterone concentrations during the transitional and breeding seasons were increased compared with the pre- and post-breeding seasons. Secretions and enlarged sebaceous glands were not found in castrated males, and the plasma testosterone concentrations remained at baseline levels. Oily secretions of the back skin glands that appear more abundant during the breeding season are rubbed against trees. Changes in size and volume of sebaceous glands, and thus their secreting capacity, are likely testosterone-regulated.