Serum progesterone concentrations using P-EIA kit in captive and free-ranging Hokkaido brown bears, Ursus arctos yesoensis.
Serum progesterone (P) concentrations using P-EIA kit (Ovucheck, Cambridge Life Science Co., Ltd.) were examined in 8 captive and 7 free-ranging female Hokkaido brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis). The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 8.9%, 12.6% and 16.6%, 22.7%, respectively, based on 2 serum samples. There was a significant correlation between EIA and radioimmunoassay results based on 64 serum samples (r = 0.725; p less than 0.01). Serum P concentrations were examined in 5 pregnant, 2 solitary non-pregnant bears and a lactating non-pregnant bear in captivity. Annual changes of P levels in pregnant bears were observed as a small elevation during the mating season (May-June), a re-elevation in September-October and a sharp elevation in November-December. The sharp elevation was suspected to reflect changes when implantation occurred. Annual changes of P levels in solitary non-pregnant bears were similar to those in pregnant bears. An annual change of P levels in a lactating non-pregnant bear maintained levels under 5 ng/ml. Two of 7 free-ranging bears exhibited P levels over 1 ng/ml and the birth of cubs was confirmed in the following year in 1 of the 2 bears. P concentrations of other free-ranging bears exhibited less than 1 ng/ml, and these bears were considered to be non-pregnant. It was concluded that P-EIA kit was available for measuring P concentrations in Hokkaido brown bears.
Tsubota
T
T
Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Agriculture, Gifu University, Japan.
Kanagawa
H
H
Yamamoto
K
K
Mano
T
T
Yamanaka
M
M
Kita
I
I
Tiba
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000097:blood; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000662:veterinary; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012621:Seasons; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001503:Ursidae / Q000097:blood*
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D011374:Progesterone