The progesterone concentration in peripheral luteal phase of the estrous cycle. Between plasma has been measured sequentially in 90 and 150 days there was an indication of individuai cows during the estrous cycle, a decline to a relatively low plasma prgC_e!gestation, at partnrition, and post-parium. terone conceltration followed b1' a variable During the estrous cycle the concentration rise. Prior io part',rrition, there was a gradual was lowest just before, cl.urin.g, and just after decline over a period of 3-5-70 days reaching estrus when the level (0'1-C'4 ng/ml) was a level of (2'0 ng'/ml the day before parturisimilar io that founcl in three ovaiiectornized tion. Following pariuriticn, the level remained cows. The concentration commenced to rise at (0.5 ng/.ml until the first sign of the on the 4th-6th day (clay of esrrus -1st day), resumption of cyclic activity.. The time for reached a peak of 3-6 ngzrnl on the 1lihthis to occlrr was very variable (20->60 L3th day, and dropped rapldty cver a24-48clays). Although not conclusive, the evidence hr period to a asal valie 24-72 hr before favors the view that for estrous behavior to the next estrus. In eariy pregnancy, the occur, estrus must be preceded by luteal plasma progesterone concentration was similar activity. The d,ischarge of muctts cen occllr to the maximum ievels found during the without previous luteai activity. RESUME La concentration de progest6rone dans le la phase cie lut6inisation dn cycle oestral. plasma p6riph6riqr.re a 6i6 rnesur6e s6cluentiel-Entie le 90" et le 1-50" iour, on a observ6 uriie lement chez des vaches en oestrus. engestation, baisse i un niveau lelativement bas de la ir la parturition, et aprds ia parturition. Au tenelrr en progestdrone clu plasma, . su.ivie cours-du cycle oestral la concentralion 6tait d'une rem.ont6e, variable. Avant la mise-bas, minimale juste avant, pendant, et iuste aprds on a observ6 une diminution graduelle, de-la I'oestrus, oir elle 6tait ciu mOme ordre (0.1-0.4 concentration au cours d'une p6riocle de 35nglml) que chez trois vaches ayani subi 70 jours, qni s'est ditablie i (2.0. ngrml la I'ablation-des ovaires. La concentration a veille de la mise-bas. Aprds la mise-bas, la commenc6 )r, augmenter errtre le 4" et le 6" teneur s'est rnaintenue ir <0.,5 ng/rni. jusclu'ir jour (le 1"" jour-6tant celui de l'oestrusi, at-I'apparition du prernier signe du ddbui. du ieignant un -maximum de 3-6 ng/ml entle cycie oestral. L'6poque dtr premier symDt6rne le 11" et le 13'jour, puis d6croissant rapiCea 6t6 tlds variable i20->60 jours). Szrns €rre ment ztu couls cl'ine pdriode de 24-28 hr pour concluairtes, les donn6es ccnnlres confirr'.rent revenir h la concentration de base 24-'12 hr I'hyoothEse selon laquelle l'oestrus doit 6t:e avant I'oestrus suivant. Au d6br-rt de ia gesta-pr6c6d6 d'une pbase de lut6inisation poui tion, la concentration cie progest6rone dans qu'il y ait rut. ll peut I' avoir 6couiement de le plasma 6tait dr-r m0me ordre que les conmttcus sans lut6inisation prealable' centrirtions nraximales |enco...