Urine samples were taken daily during 22 menstrual cycles of six normal adult female gorillas. Urine was analyzed for total immunoreactive estrogens (EL) and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) and indexed by creatinine (Cr). An average cycle length of 32 f 1 days (mean f SE) with a range of 25-42 days is reported. Estrogen values range from 4 to 128 ngimg Cr and show a midcycle peak and a midluteal rise. PdG values range from 0.01 to 2.4 pgimg Cr and display a low, flat fouicular phase followed by a luteal elevation. The follicular phase is 19.5 k 1 days in length (range 11-30 days) and accounts for the variation in cycle length. The luteal phase is 12.3 k 0.3 days long (range 10-14 days). In contrast to previous studies, PdG levels rise two days before the estrogen peak. The results from the present study are compared with information available on the gorilla, chimpanzee, and human. The accuracy of various alignment methods is discussed, as well as the importance of the methods presented in this study for the captive propagation of gorillas.

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A direct radioimmunoassay for measuring urinary 20-hydroxyprogesterone crossreactivity to monitor and assess luteal function and detect pregnancy in the liontailed macaque (Mucucu silenus) is described. Urine samples were collected daily during ten nonconceptive and five conceptive ovarian cycles of five dult female lion-tailed macaques. Urine was analyzed for concentrations of 20a-hydroxyprogesterone cross-reactivity, estrone conjugates, and creatinine.The strength of the luteal phase in normal nonconceptive cycles (n = 8) is characterized by a maximum sevenfold increase (day 9) in mean 2Oa-hydroxyprogesterone cross-reactivity over follicular phase levels; the duration, by a 13-day sustained elevation of mean 20a-hydroxyprogesterone cross-reactivity levels. Pregnancy is detectable from 20a-hydroxyprogesterone cross-reactivity values approximately 20 days after the periovulatory estrone conjugate peak (n = 4). Apparent anovulation (n = l), extended follicular phase (n = l), and early abortion (n = 1) also are detectable using 20a-hydroxyprogesterone cross-reactivity measurements.

A direct immunoassay for urinary estrone conjugates (estrone sulfate and estrone glucuronide) was used to assess the preovulatory estrogen rise in normal gorilla menstrual cycles. Immunoreactive estrone conjugates in samples concomitantly assessed for total estrogen immunoreactivity reflected similar profiles throughout the cycle; however, the speed and resolution of the direct assay for conjugates indicate this method to be more accurate in monitoring ovulation than the measurement of total immunoreactive estrogens. In a single conceptive ovarian cycle, urinary estrone conjugate continued to rise in the luteal phase, indicating that this test may also be useful for detecting early pregnancy. The application of this technique provides clear profile of ovarian function in gorillas as well as in other primate species.

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