內分泌失調? 非洲雌獅長出雄性長鬃毛!

Lab results have revealed the answer to a mystery at an Oklahoma zoo: Just what caused a female lion to sprout a mane.

近日，實驗室的一項研究結果揭示了俄克拉荷馬州動物園的一個謎題：是什麼導致一頭雌獅長出了鬃毛。

The Oklahoma City Zoo says in its March newsletter that testing at the University of Tennessee found the African lioness named Bridget has an elevated level of androstenedione, a hormone that can contribute to developing male features.

俄克拉荷馬城動物園在其3月份的時事通訊中稱，田納西大學的測試發現，非洲雌獅布麗姬特的雄烯二酮水平較高，這是一種能促進雄性特徵的激素。

Veterinarians compared Bridget's blood to samples from her sister, who has no mane.

獸醫將布麗姬特的血液和它沒長鬃毛的姐姐的樣本進行了比較。

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Bridget's blood also contained a higher level of cortisol, which regulates metabolism and the immune system.

在布麗姬特的血液中，可以調節新陳代謝和免疫系統的皮質醇的水平也要更高。

The zoo says the results likely mean the 18-year-old lioness has a benign tumor that's producing the hormones, but that her health is excellent.

該動物園稱，這一結果可能意味着這頭18歲的雌獅長了可以產生激素的良性腫瘤，但她的健康狀況卻很不錯。

The zoo says female lions with manes are not unheard of, but they are rare.

園方表示，長鬃毛的雌獅並不是前所未聞的，只是這一情況比較罕見。