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Neonatal and Pubertal Development in Males of a Cooperatively Breeding Primate, the Cotton-Top Tamarin (Saguinus oedipus oedipus)¹

^a Departments of Zoology and ^b Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 ^c Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center (WRPRC), Madison, Wisconsin 53706

In cooperatively breeding groups of mammals, reproduction is usually restricted to a small number of individuals within the social group. Sexual development of mammals can be affected by social environment, but we know little regarding effects of the cooperative-breeding system on males. Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus oedipus) offspring typically do not reproduce in their natal group, even though they may be physically mature. We examined neonatal and pubertal development in captive male cotton-top tamarins as an example of reproductive development within a cooperative-breeding system and to compare cotton-top tamarins with the general primate model. Puberty was characterized using both hormonal and physical measures. Data were collected on urinary levels of LH, testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), cortisol, and the ratio of DHT to T; testicular development; body weight; and breeding age. We determined that 1) pubertal LH secretion began at Week 37, 2) a surge of T secretion followed at Weeks 41–44, and 3) an increase in the metabolism of T to DHT may have occurred at an average age of 48.6 wk. Most of the rapid weight gain was completed by Week 24, before hormonal increases and rapid scrotal growth. We concluded that rapid pubertal testicular growth in captive cotton-top males was completed by an average 76 wk, but that completion of the individual pubertal spurt can occur between 56 and 122 wk. In a cooperative-breeding system, the opportunity for successful reproduction is dictated by the social environment, but we found no evidence that male offspring were developmentally suppressed in their natal social groups. Our findings suggest that puberty in male New World callitrichid primates occurs more quickly than puberty in Old World primates, even though both have similar patterns of development.

First decision: 5 July 2001.

¹ Supported by MH grant 35 215 and funds from the University of Wisconsin Graduate School Research Committee (C.T.S.). Assay support was provided by Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center (WRPRC) grant RROO167. This is WRPRC publication 41-002.

² Correspondence: Anita J. Ginther, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 West Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53706. FAX: 608 262 4029; ajginther{at}bigfoot.com