Monitoring fecal samples for estrogen excretion across the ovarian cycle in Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii)

Abstract

In captive Goeldi's monkeys, estrogen concentration was determined in fecal samples collected from 4 cycling/unmated females and 4 postpartudmated females in order to ascertain the potential of fecal estrogen monitoring for providing basic information about reproductive status in this endangered Amazonian monkey. Subjects were fed an omnivorous diet and first-void feces were collected in the home cage at 1-3-day intervals for 30-50 days from the cycling females, and at 6-14-day intervals around the estimated time of the postpartum ovulation in each of the 4 mated females. Estimates for the duration of ovarian cycles (22-26 days) and the timing of ovulation were based on cyclic profiles of either blood progesterone or urinary pregnanediol-3a-glucuronide. Fecal estrogen values were normalized using these plasma or urinary profiles. HPLC analysis of estrogen from postpartum fecal samples demonstrated the presence of unconjugated estrone and estradiol-17p ("unconjugated estrogen"). Unconjugated estrogen was extracted and its fecal concentration estimated via EIA. The correlation (I) between plasma estrone conjugates and fecal unconjugated estrogen across nonconception ovarian cycles was 0.65 and measurement of the latter generated cyclic profiles. A range of 4-36-ng unconjugated estrogen g-' feces was identified for follicular phases of nonconception cycles. Fecal unconjugated estrogen first exceeded the concentration range of the follicular phase 2-5 days after ovulation; the range was 49-402 ng g-' feces in samples collected during the remainder of these nonconception luteal phases. Luteal phase concentrations were on average 10-fold higher than follicular phase concentrations. Each of the 4 mated females conceived at its postpartum ovulation; concentrations of fecal unconjugated estrogen excreted by 3 of these females demonstrated a marked postovulatory increase. This study demonstrates that fecal unconjugated estrogen can be applied to monitor ovarian cyclicity in Goeldi's monkey. 0 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Coleta de sêmen em mico-leão-de-cara-dourada (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) (Kuhl, 1820) através da eletroejaculação Callitrichidae primates

“…Estudos sobre os machos são de grande importância, uma vez que até o momento as fêmeas têm merecido mais atenção, sendo investigadas através da medição de níveis de esteróides metabolizados excretados pelas fezes e urina, levando em consideração as influências sazonais e comportamentais reprodutivas (Wasser et al, 1988, Pryce et al, 1994, Zigler et al, 1996, Jurke et al, 1997.…”

“…Durante a colheita por eletroejaculação, observou-se ausência de ereção peniana em alguns machos de Leontopithecus chrysomelas, coincidindo com as descrições de Lang (1967) (Cui et al, 1991, Cui 1996, Morrel et al, 1988, Kuerdeling et al, 2000, Cebus apella (Guimarães, 1994), Allouatta caraya (Valle, 2002), Cercopithecus aethiops (Seier et al, 1996) …”

“…Evidencia-se que nos primatas do Novo Mundo ocorre maior porcentagem de anomalias em cauda e peça intermediária e menor na cabeça dos espermatozóides (Cui et al, 1991, Harrison e Wolf,1985, Seier et al, 1996. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo descrever a obtenção de sêmen em mico-leão-de-cara-dourada (Leontopithecus chrysomelas), através da eletroejaculação transretal, bem como o volume e aspecto dos ejaculados obtidos e a morfologia dos espermatozóides encontrados.…”

<b>Non-Invasive Monitoring of Reproduction in Zoo and Wildlife Species</b>

“…Fecal steroid analysis has indicated that felids are primarily induced ovulators although incidences of spontaneous ovulations have been observed (see reviews by Brown, 1997, andBrown et al, 2001). Fecal estrogen analysis has indicated New World primates are unusual in that maximal estrogen concentrations occur during the luteal phase and not during the follicular phase (Heistermann et al, 1993;Pryce et al, 1994;Ziegler et al, 1996). Although germ cell production is less tightly coupled to hormonal variations in the male than in the female, non-invasive androgen monitoring in males has useful in characterizing seasonal patterns.…”

Reproduction and development in Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii)

“…Fecal unconjugated estrogen (estrone and estradiol-17␤) concentrations during the luteal phase (105 Ϯ 22 ng/g) are on average 10-fold higher than follicular phase concentrations (11 Ϯ 2 ng/g). 4 The increase in concentrations occurs 2-5 days after ovulation. …”