Yolk-albumen testosterone in a lizard with temperature-dependent sex determination: Relation with development

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination as well as temperature-influenced polymorphisms. Research suggests that in oviparous reptiles with temperature-dependent sex determination, steroid hormones in the yolk might influence sex determination and sexual differentiation. From captive leopard geckos that were all from the same incubation temperature regime, we gathered freshly laid eggs, incubated them at one of two female-biased incubation temperatures (26 or 34 °C), and measured testosterone content in the yolk-albumen at early or late development. No differences in the concentration of testosterone were detected in eggs from different incubation temperatures. We report testosterone concentrations in the yolk-albumen were higher in eggs of late development than early development at 26 °C incubation temperatures, a finding opposite that reported in other TSD reptiles studied to date.

► Yolk-albumen testosterone concentration increases during development. ► Testosterone increase is opposite of most other recorded in ovo development patterns. ► High and low incubation temperatures did not differ in testosterone concentration.