Changes in Serum Testosterone and Cortisol Concentrations of Semi-free Ranging Male Père David's Deer in Rut Status

Using radioimmunoassay technique,we determined concentration of 2 steroids of blood samples from 3 male Père Davids deer (Eluphurus davidianus) in rut,3 in pre-rut,and 4 in postrut during Jul.-Aug.2000.Results showed that serum testosterone concentration (STC) in the rut was significantly higher than that in the pre- and post-rut,however,serum cortisol concentration (SCC) kept stable,and did not change with STC.The change in STC consists with that documented for wild ungulates.