Meeting Abstract

120.6  Tuesday, Jan. 7 11:45  Plasma vitellogenin in free-ranging loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) of the northwest Atlantic Ocean SMELKER, K.*; SMITH, L.; ARENDT, M.; SCHWENTER, J; ROSTAL, D; SELCER, K; VALVERDE, R; Southeastern Louisiana University; Southeastern Louisiana University; South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; Georgia Southern University; Duquesne University; Southeastern Louisiana University kimberly.smelker@ttu.edu

Until presently, innate production of vitellogenin has not been described in reproductively active free-ranging sea turtles. Our study describes circulating concentrations of vitellogenin in nesting and non-nesting females, juvenile and male loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from the Northwest Atlantic distinct population segment. We hypothesized that vitellogenin concentration would parallel estrogen concentration, therefore vitellogenin would only be detectable in reproductively active females and plasma concentration would decrease as the nesting season progressed. Blood samples from juveniles, males, and non- reproductive females were collected in 2008 and 2009 via in-water captures off the coast of the Southeast US, and blood samples from nesting females were collected in 2008 at Hutchinson Island, Florida. All samples were analyzed using an in-house ELISA developed specifically for Caretta caretta vitellogenin. As expected, plasma vitellogenin declined in nesting turtles as the nesting season progressed, although it still remained relatively elevated at the end of the season. In addition, mean vitellogenin concentration in nesting turtles was 1,000 times greater than that measured in samples from in-water captures. Our results suggest that vitellogenesis may continue throughout the nesting season, albeit at a decreasing rate. Further, vitellogenin detected in turtles captured in-water may have resulted from exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals.