Monitoring ovarian function in scimitar‐horned oryx (Oryx dammah) by measurement of fecal 20α‐progestagen metabolites

Abstract

The feasibility of monitoring ovarian function in scimitar-horned oryx (OFYX dammnh) by measurement of fecal 20a-progestagens was investigated. Fecal samples were collected daily or on alternate days over a 4-1 1 month period from five oryx during natural (n = 4) or synthetic PGF,, (cloprosteno1)-controlled (n = 1 ) cycles. Of the four oryx undergoing natural cycles, three had regular access to a vasectomised male, and mating dates were recorded. Ultrasonography was used to monitor changes in reproductive tract morphology in the female administered with cloprostenol. Neutral steroids were extracted from feces with methano1:petroleum ether (2: 1 viv) after first removing phenolic steroids with potassium hydroxide (1 M). The concentration of 20a-progestagens in the methanol phase was measured by enzymeimmunoassay. Excretion of 20a-progestagens in all females followed a cyclic pattern corresponding to the follicular and luteal phases of the ovarian cycle. Concentrations of fecal 20a-progestagens were on average twentyfold greater during the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase. Mean (t SD) ovarian cycle length, based on fecal progestagen profiles, was 24.4 * 2.2 days with mean (+SD) luteal and follicular phase lengths of 18.7 + 2.8 and 5.7 -C 1.6 days, respectively. Mating by a vasectomized male occurred when 20a-progestagen concentrations were still elevated or declining. Similarly, fecal progestagens did not return to follicular phase concentrations for 4-5 days after administration of cloprostenol, and a 4 day delay was observed between ovulation, as visualized by ultrasound scanning, and a rise in fecal 2Oa-progestagens. These data suggest a time lag of approximately 4 days between reproductive events and changes in fecal 20a-progestagen concentrations. We conclude that measurement of immunoreactive 20a-progestagen concentrations in feces has limited application for predicting ovulation or accurately timing inseminations because of delay in steroid excretion, but will enable noninvasive monitoring of ovarian cycles in scimitar-horned oryx for fertility assessment and for determining the outcome of artificial insemination programs.

Reproductive seasonality in the female scimitar‐horned oryx (Oryx dammah)

“…These data confirm previous reports calculated from behavioural observations (Durrant, 1983;Bowen & Barrell, 1996), plasma progesterone profiles (Morrow & Monfort, 1995;Bowen & Barrell, 1996), urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide patterns (Loskutoff et al, 1983) and faecal steroid metabolites (Shaw et al, 1995). These data confirm previous reports calculated from behavioural observations (Durrant, 1983;Bowen & Barrell, 1996), plasma progesterone profiles (Morrow & Monfort, 1995;Bowen & Barrell, 1996), urinary pregnanediol-3α-glucuronide patterns (Loskutoff et al, 1983) and faecal steroid metabolites (Shaw et al, 1995).…”

“…Endocrine profiles obtained from urine (Lostkutoff, Ott & Lasley, 1983), faeces (Shaw et al, 1995) and blood samples (Morrow & Monfort, 1995;Bowen & Barrell, 1996;Morrow, 1997) during natural and artificially induced ovarian cycles have provided useful infor-mation on progesterone secretion during the ovarian cycle of the scimitar-horned oryx. However, there has been no investigation of oestrogen profiles or the circannual reproductive-endocrine patterns in female oryx.…”

Ovulatory cycles and anovulatory periods in the addax (Addax nasomaculatus)

“…Female 5 experienced an abortion, had one non-conceptive cycle, mated and conceived again (Fig. 2a) Cycle duration from faecal progestogen analysis was 24 days for oryx (Shaw et al, 1995 …”

Pregnancy diagnosis based on the fecal progesterone concentration in beef and dairy heifers and beef cows

“…The presence of measurable amounts of reproductive steroids was identified in cattle feces (Desaulniers et al, 1989;Larter et al, 1994;Schwarzenberger et al, 1996;Isobe et al, 2005) and other animals (Shaw et al, 1995;Morrow and Monfort, 1998;Morrow et al, 1999;Thompson and Monfort, 1999). Schwarzenberger et al (1996) found that progesterone is metabolized before fecal excretion, un-metabolized progesterone is detectable to only a limited extent in feces.…”