title: Plasma progesterone concentrations in the female Natal clinging bat (Miniopterus schreibersii natalensis).
abstract: Plasma progesterone concentrations measured by radioimmunoassay in the Natal clinging bat remained below 2.01 ng/ml during lactational anoestrus but increased significantly during the period of delayed implantation. Values peaked at implantation but were followed by a significant decrease thereafter. Concentrations remained low (less than 6.0 ng/ml) during the initial period of fetal development (153-180 days post coitum) and attained peak values (85.6-181.3 ng/ml) 216-222 days after fertilization. The marked post-implantation increase in progesterone concentrations coincided with a significant increase in placental weight.
authors.affiliation: Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Aarde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000097:blood*; D010065:Embryo Implantation, Delayed / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000097:blood*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D011374:Progesterone