Monitoring luteal function in the lion‐tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) through urinary progesterone metabolite measurements

Abstract

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.

Estrogen and Progesterone Metabolites and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone in the Aged Macaque Female1

“…Several previously published studies have described 4-6 mo of daily hormone patterns for women [2,3] and nonhuman primate species [5,[10][11][12][13][14]. Seasonal changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis may be an important consideration when developing a nonhuman primate model for the human menopausal transition.…”

Long-term data on basic reproductive parameters and evaluation of endocrine, morphological, and behavioral measures for monitoring reproductive status in a group of semifree-ranging Tonkean macaques (Macaca tonkeana)

“…A major part of these progesterone metabolites in macaque urine, however, appears to be structurally similar enough to pregnanediol to be detected in a nonspecific PdG assay [Braasch et al, 1988;Shideler et al, 19931. Although the exact nature of the metabolites measured in our PdG assay is not known, the determination of PdG immunoreactivity revealed a clear follicularluteal phase shift, indicating that in the Tonkean macaque, as in other macaque species [Shideler et al, 1985[Shideler et al, , 1990[Shideler et al, , 1993Braasch et al, 19881, a nonspecific PdG measurement is useful to monitor ovarian cyclicity and luteal function. Due to a large day-to-day variability, a clear preovulatory E1C rise could not be observed for the majority of cycles studied, although highest E1C concentrations were usually found 1-2 days prior to the onset of the luteal phase PdG increase.…”

“…Last, samples were collected under relatively adverse conditions (from the ground, trunks, and leaves), which might have resulted in a higher nonphysiological variance in E1C measurements compared to the measurement of samples collected in a cage situation. Studies under more controlled conditions of sample collection (e.g., cage-housed animals) are thus needed to determine whether the measurement of urinary estrone conjugates is useful for monitoring estrogen excretion during the ovarian cycle in Tonkean macaques, as in other macaques [Shideler et al, 1983[Shideler et al, , 1993Monfort et al, 1986, 19871. Following conception, urinary progestin levels remain elevated beyond the length of the luteal phase, allowing pregnancy to be detected within the first months after conception, as in other primates [Eastman et al, 1984;Shideler et al, 1985Shideler et al, ,1993Monfort et al, 1986;Heistermann & Hodges, 1994;Jurke et al, 19941. A parallel evaluation of urinary E1C concentrations which are elevated by the third week after conception can be used to confirm pregnancy.…”

“…It may be noted that the ovarian cycle is also relatively long in the lion-tailed macaque ( M . silenus) [Ramaswami et al, 1982;Shideler et al, 1985;Clarke et al, 19931 and the pig-tailed macaque ( M . nemestrzna) [Bullock et al, 1972;Eaton & Resko, 1974;Hadidian & Bernstein, 19791, two species belonging to the same phyletic lineage as Sulawesi macaques [Fooden, 1976;Fa, 19891. In absence of any information on hormone metabolism in the Tonkean macaque, the measurement of estrone conjugates (E 1C) and immunoreactive pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) was used to assess the feasibility of urinary endocrine monitoring of female reproductive status.…”

Measurement of urinary oestrogens and 20 -dihydroprogesterone during ovarian cycles of black (Diceros bicornis) and white (Ceratotherium simum) rhinoceroses

“…However, in equids, circulating concentrations of 20ct-DHP accurately reflect luteal function (Van Rensburg & Van Niekerk, 1968) and the measurement of urinary immunoreactive 20ot-DHP by non-specific radioimmunoassay has also provided valuable information on the ovarian cycle (Kirkpatrick et al, 1990). This non-specific measurement has been applied to reproductive assessment in many species, including primates (Shideler et al, 1985;Monfort et al, 1986), but proved insufficiently sensitive to detect low concentrations of 20ct-DHP in black rhinoceros urine (M. Densmore, personal communication). The present report is the first to describe the specific measurement of 20a-DHP in urine, which in the African species of rhinoceros correlates well with behavioural oestrus and increased oestrogen excretion around the time of presumed ovulation.…”