- Zoos: A Historical Perspective from Smithsonian Institution Libraries
The National Zoological Park is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
AZA
Janine L. Brown, Ph.D., Reproductive Physiologist, Department
of Reproductive Sciences 1991-present
Reproductive
Sciences
Education
North Dakota State University, B.S., Animal Sciences, 1976
Washington State University, M.S., Animal Sciences, 1980
Washington State University, Ph.D., Animal Sciences, 1984
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Post-Doctoral
Fellowship, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1985-1987
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Assistant
Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1988-1990
Professional History and Interests
Janine Brown has conducted research to better understand the reproductive biology of endangered wildlife for more than 15 years. She joined the National Zoo in 1991 to develop an independent research/training program at the Conservation and Research Center (CRC). She now manages fellows, students, technicians and volunteers who study the reproductive biology of both domesticated and wild animals. Basic and applied research, specifically in the areas of endocrinology and theriogenology, is devoted to increasing knowledge that will lead to better management and conservation of endangered species.
Brown co-coordinates one of the world’s largest and most productive endocrinology laboratories that benefits wildlife species. This laboratory is used for the research of Brown and her students, but it also is a service laboratory for other zoological institutions from the Unietd States and abroad.
Her research efforts are connected to the scientific disciplines of behavior, reproductive endocrinology and stress management. Specific research areas include studying reproductive and behavioral relationships in felids, such as cheetahs and clouded leopards, and rhinoceroses, including the African white, African black, and Indian one-horned.
She also is a world authority on elephant reproductive biology. She and her laboratory play key roles in ex situ management plans for Asian and African elephants in the U.S. and in range countries like Thailand and India. Brown coordinated one of first successful artificial inseminations in Asian elephants, and she consistently works with other institutions interested in understanding and overcoming infertility problems in ex situ elephant populations.
She also oversaw the development of non-invasive techniques for monitoring gonadal and adrenal activity through the analysis of steroids excreted in urine, feces and saliva. As a result, she now has amassed an extensive database for more than a dozen species demonstrating the diversity of estrous cycle dynamics, seasonal activity and ovulatory mechanisms. This methodology has also proven invaluable for assessing ovarian responses to ovulation induction procedures, leading to improved AI protocols. Finally, fecal corticoid analysis is proving instrumental in assessing the impact of management and husbandry practices on stress and well-being in captive animals.
Brown’s projects often are linked to her relationships with the Species Survival Plans (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. She is Reproductive Advisor to the Felid Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) and the Elephant SSP/TAG, providing advice and direct research assistance to improve breeding management.
Brown practices capacity building through her training of graduate students, post-doctoral fellows and interns who will carry on this important, multidisciplinary work in the future. She coordinates training workshops in endocrine techniques as part of university courses in the U.S. and technology transfer efforts in countries like Thailand and China.
Brown has more than 100 publications in the peer-reviewed literature, including several book chapters and review articles. She is a frequent invited lecturer at national and international scientific conferences, and serves on the Editorial Boards of scientific journals, including Biology of Reproduction, Zoo Biology, and Animal Reproduction Science.
Selected Publications
Pelican, K.M., Brown, J.L., Wildt, D.E., Ottinger, M.A. and Howard, JG. 2005. Short-term suppression of follicular recruitment and spontaneous ovulation in the cat using levonorgestrel versus a GnRH antagonist. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 144:110-121.
Graham, L.H., A.P. Byers, D.L. Armstrong, N.M Loskutoff, W.F. Swanson, D.E. Wildt and J.L. Brown. 2006. Natural and gonadotropin-induced ovarian activity in tigers (Panthera tigris) assessed by fecal steroid analysis. Gen Comp. Endocrinol. 147:362–370.
Powell, D.M., K. Carlstead, L.R. Tarou, J.L. Brown and S.L. Monfort. 2006. Effects if construction noise on behavior and cortisol levels in a pair of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Zoo Biol. 25:391-408.
Songsasen, N., M. Rodden, J.L. Brown and D.E. Wildt. 2006. Patterns of fecal gonadal hormone metabolites in the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). Theriogenology 66:1743-1750.
Brown, J.L., A.C. Bellem, M. Fouraker, D.E. Wildt and T.L. Roth. 2002. Comparative analysis of gonadal and adrenal activity in male and female black and white rhinoceros in North America by non-invasive endocrine monitoring. Zoo Biol. 20:463-486.
Wielebnowski, N.C., K. Ziegler, D.E. Wildt, J. Lukas and J.L. Brown. 2002. The impact of social housing on reproductive hormones, adrenal activity and behavior in female cheetahs. Cons. Biol. 5:291-301.
Brown, J.L., L.H. Graham, N. Wielebnowski, W.F. Swanson, D.E. Wildt and J.G. Howard. 2001. Understanding the basic reproductive biology of wild felids through noninvasive faecal steroid monitoring. J. Reprod. Fertil., Suppl. 57:71-82.
Brown, J.L., L.H. Graham, N. Wielebnowski, W.F. Swanson, D.E. Wildt and J.G. Howard. 2001. Understanding the basic reproductive biology of wild felids by monitoring faecal steroids. In: Advances in Reproduction in Dogs, Cats and Wildlife Carnivores, P.W. Concannon, G.C.W. England, W. Farstad, C. Linde-Forsberg, J.P. Verstegen and C. Doberska, eds. Journals of Reproduction and Fertility, Ltd., Colchester, pp. 71-82.
Brown, J.L. 2000. Reproductive endocrine monitoring of elephants: An essential tool for assisting captive management. Zoo Biology 19, 347-368.
View all publications, abstracts, and printable papers by Janine Brown.
Contact
Smithsonian
National Zoological Park
Conservation and Research Center
1500 Remount Road
Front Royal, VA 22630
540.635.6586
Fax 540.635.6506
