Abnormal prolactin secretion in African Elephants is not so different as humans

 Research on African elephants (Loxodonta africana) offers insight about the metabolic consequences of abnormal prolactin secretion. This is important as it can help assess elephant health in relation to the conservation and care of these animals. But not only that, it identifies parallels in elephant and human health that were previously unknown.  

Natalia Prado and colleagues examined the metabolic health biomarkers in acyclic female elephants with either abnormally high or low prolactin levels. They found that both extremes of prolactin secretion are harmful, but in distinct ways. 

They saw that high-prolactin elephants showed significantly lower levels of thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, and T4), lower glucose and LDL cholesterol, yet higher total cholesterol. These markers point towards hypothyroidism and suggest that a disrupted thyroid system may be caused or aggravated by elevated prolactin.​

In elephants with low prolactin levels, they saw increased body condition scores (BCS), insulin, HDL cholesterol, cortisol, and testosterone. The combination of higher insulin and body fat signals possible insulin resistance, which is a precursor to metabolic syndrome.

These results show that elephant metabolic health is just as complicated and intertwined as human health. That abnormal prolactin not only disrupts reproductive cycling but also profoundly affects energy balance, lipid metabolism, and the stress in elephants.

Both elephants and humans are vulnerable to the metabolic consequences of abnormal prolactin, including thyroid dysfunction and insulin resistance.

This study greatly sheds light on metabolic and endocrine systems in elephants that we did not previously understand. And while there were similarities between humans and elephants, we have to keep in mind that there are slight physiological changes that can make a big impact (such as… body mass… and musth in male elephants).  So while we gained great insight into the elephant’s metabolic pathway and endocrine system, further studies need to be made into these complex systems. 

Prado, N.; et al. (2023). Abnormal prolactin secretion is associated with changes in metabolic health biomarkers in acyclic female African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Science Direct. https://www-sciencedirect-com.dml.regis.edu/science/article/pii/S2773093X23000466?via%3Dihub