Hormonal induction of oestrus and pregnancy in anoestrous ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).
Three doses of FSH were tested for their ability to induce oestrus in ferrets. A dose of 0.25 mg, administered twice daily, induced oestrus and breeding in most females within 6-13 days. Addition of 5 i.u. hCG during the final stages of follicular development enhanced the percentage of females with implantation sites (85%), and 23% of the ferrets so treated gave birth to kits, none of which survived for more than 3 days. This may have been due to insufficient prolactin secretion and thus inadequate luteal maintenance and milk production, as these females were maintained on a short-day photoperiod.
Mead
R A
RA
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow 83843.
Neirinckx
S
S
D000780:Anestrus; D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000502:physiology*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects; D004971:Estrus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets / Q000502:physiology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone