Skip to main content Skip to page footer
Die enyzmatische Reaktion wird abgestoppt, ein Farbumschlag von blau nach gelb Thomas Steuer

The Endocrinology Laboratory

What we offer

The Endocrinology Laboratory offers comprehensive expertise in endocrinological research and physiology. In addition to hormone analysis for assessing reproductive and stress status, we also provide the analysis of other important physiological parameters, such as markers of immune responses and bone health. Our extensive experience in developing and applying methods for measuring markers from blood, saliva, urine, and feces supports a wide range of research projects in biomedical as well as comparative field-based research.

Explore our services

Contact

Dr. Verena Behringer Head Endocrinology Laboratory

+49 551 3851-141
e-mail

to profile

Expertise

With over 25 years of experience in measuring steroid hormones using enzyme immunoassay methods, our laboratory has generated data used in more than 200 scientific publications.

 

  • Immunological analysis: Validated methods for measuring sex hormones (estrogens, progestogens, androgens), stress hormones (glucocorticoids), and many other physiological markers in blood and saliva, as well as their metabolites in urine and feces for various primate species and other mammals.
    • Reproductive status: Validated assays for monitoring female reproductive status.
    • Stress physiology: Validated assays for assessing stress physiology.
    • Energetic Status: Quantitative determination of C-peptide, glucocorticoids, and total T3 (thyroid hormone).
    • Immune system responses: Quantitative determination of neopterin, suPAR, and immunoglobulin A.
  • Training: Training of students and postdoctoral researchers in non-invasive hormone analysis methods from various European and non-European countries. Additionally, we offer laboratory internships as part of the Master’s and PhD programs at the University of Göttingen.
  • Research: Supporting numerous scientific projects by providing physiological data and contributing to scientific publications with results from our laboratory.
  • Reproductive management: Over 25 years of experience in providing non-invasive hormonal reproductive diagnostics for Asian and African elephants across Europe.

Get sample collection guide now!

A person in a white lab coat, wearing latex gloves and goggles, places a 96-well plate into a microplate reader. On the right, a computer screen displays a curve. In front of the computer, boxes of filled pipette tips in yellow and blue are visible. Thomas Steuer
Use of the microplate reader to read an enzyme immunoassay.
The illustration is divided into two parts: on the left side, it shows a graphical representation of three ovulations measured in fecal samples from an orangutan. After the third ovulation, the progesterone levels remain low, reflecting an acyclic phase. Subsequently, an increase in values is observed, indicating an upcoming ovulation. On the right side, a female adult orangutan is depicted. Grafik Heistermann, Foto Behringer
Temporal profile of a fecally excreted progesterone metabolite in a female orangutan exhibiting irregularities in ovarian cycle activity (Ov = ovulation).
The image is divided in two: the left side shows a graphical representation of elephant reproduction with two cycles before conception. The progesterone levels measured in urine rise sharply afterwards and remain high for an extended period, indicating pregnancy. Just before birth, the levels decrease and remain low. On the right side, there is an image of an elephant cow with her offspring. Grafik Heistermann, Foto Behringer
The profile of the progesterone metabolite pregnantriol in the urine of a female Asian elephant. The hormonal data indicate the occurrence of two ovarian cycles followed by a successful pregnancy.

Latest Publications

  • Pethig L; Behringer V; Kappeler P.M; Heistermann M. (2024)

    Establishment and validation of fecal secretory immunoglobulin A measurement for intestinal mucosal health assessment in wild lemurs.

    Am. J. Primatol. 86(12): e23694 - DOI -
  • Petersdorf M; Weyer, AH; Heistermann M; Gubson JL; Govaerts A, Siame S; Mustill RL; Hillegas ME; Winters S; Dubuc C; Higham JP. (2024)

    Multimodal sexual signals are not precise indicators of fertility in female Kinda baboons.

    Horm. Behav.165: 105632 - DOI -
  • Fürtbauer I; Shergold C; Christensen C; Bracken A.M; Heistermann M; Papadopoulou M; O'Riain M.J; King A.J. (2024)

    Linking energy availability, movement and sociality in a wild primate (Papio ursinus).

    Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B 379(1916): 20220466 - DOI -
  • Jaffe JE; Mätz-Rensing K; Ulrich M; Gräßle T; Behringer V; Wittig RW; Leendertz FH. (2024)

    Chronic kidney disease and kidney stone in a wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) in Côte D'Ivoire.

    J. Med. Primatol. 53(5): e12739 - DOI -
  • Behringer V; Sonnweber R; Hohmann G; Stevens JMG; Verspeek J; Kivell TL. (2024)

    A non‐invasive measure of bone growth in mammals: Validating urinary CTX‐I as a bone resorption marker through long‐bone growth velocity in bonobos.

    Ecol. Evol. 14(9): e70326 - DOI -

VIEW ALL