Sudsukh A, Taya K, Watanabe G, Wajjwalku W, Thongphakdee A, Thongtip N. Annual ovarian activity monitored by the noninvasive measurement of fecal concentrations of progesterone and 17β-estradiol metabolites in rusa deer (Rusa timorensis).
J Vet Med Sci 2017;
78:1785-1790. [PMID:
27570098 PMCID:
PMC5240755 DOI:
10.1292/jvms.15-0485]
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Abstract
To clarify the reproductive cycle of female Rusa deer (Rusa timorensis),
the fecal concentrations of progesterone and 17β-estradiol metabolites were measured.
Fecal samples were collected on a weekly basis for one year (between October, 2012 and
September, 2013) from five healthy adult hinds in Thailand. At the beginning of the study,
three hinds were pregnant. Two hinds delivered one healthy offspring, and one hind
delivered a stillborn calf. The mating period of Rusa hinds in Thailand is from November
to April. In pregnant hinds, fecal progesterone metabolite concentration was high in late
pregnancy and abruptly declined to the baseline around parturition, suggesting that the
placenta secretes a large amount of progesterone. Fecal 17β-estradiol metabolite
concentration remained elevated around the day of parturition. Both concentrations of
fecal progesterone and 17β-estradiol metabolites in non-lactating hinds were significantly
higher than those in lactating hinds, indicating that ovarian activity of lactating hinds
is suppressed by the suckling stimulus of fawn during lactation. The present study
demonstrated that monitoring of fecal steroid hormones is useful method for assessing
ovarian function in this species.
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