Project description:The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is experiencing serious challenges to optimal reproduction in captivity. The physiological and molecular basis of this impaired fertility remains unknown. A functional link between nutritional status, body condition score and fertility is well established in humans and many other species, where adipose tissue production of the hormone leptin has emerged as a crucial reproductive regulator. This report forms the basis for future studies to address the effect of nutrient composition and body condition on captive and wild elephants.
