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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The aim of this study was to evaluate home‐made and commercial extenders for the cryopreservation of Rusa deer semen. After collection by electroejaculation, six ejaculates were diluted and frozen in TES‐based, Tris‐based and Triladyl® extenders. Subjective motility, viability, morphology, acrosome integrity and membrane functionality were assessed post‐thawing and after 1‐hr incubation at 37°C (Thermal stress test). Total and progressive motility, and kinematic parameters were also assessed through CASA system. Post‐thawing sperm progressive motility (PM), velocity according to the straight path (VSL) and linearity (LIN) showed significant differences, and higher values were detected for spermatozoa diluted with Triladyl® and TES (p < 0.05) as compared with Tris (PM of Triladyl® 14.7% vs. 3.2% TES and 2.5% Tris; VSL 56 for Triladyl®, 59.2 for TES and 41.7 for Tris; LIN 45.6 for Triladyl®, 52 for TES and 36.5 for Tris). Triladyl® and TES extender led to better post‐thawing sperm parameters, but these preliminary results need to be verified through artificial insemination trials.
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