Induction of luteal activity and progesterone secretion in the nonpregnant one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius).
Corpora lutea (n = 20) were detected in 5 one-humped female camels studied during a period of 4 months. Complete mating by a vasectomized male, male introduction into the pen of females without mating, or a progesterone decrease from a previous corpus luteum were followed by a similar progesterone pattern. A maximal plasma concentration of 4.5 +/- 1.5 ng progesterone/ml (2.7-8.8 ng/ml) occurred 8.55 +/- 1.32 days (6-11 days) after the inducing stimulus. Luteal regression, beginning 8.65 +/- 1.18 days after the stimulus, was completed at Day 11.55 +/- 1.05. Morphological development of ovarian structures, detected by rectal palpation, was in synchrony with the progesterone increase, but there was a prolonged period of regression. Females accepted mating up to 7 days after the ovulatory stimulus, when progesterone levels were as high as 3.5 ng/ml. This study establishes the absence of pseudopregnancy in the one-humped female camel, and offers opportunities for improving the management of reproduction. It also shows that ovulatory stimuli other than mating can be effective in these animals.
D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000502:physiology*; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010060:Ovulation; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal
D011374:Progesterone