[Continuing studies on the stability of sex steroids in the feces of cows over 12 weeks].
In recent years an increasing number of reports were published indicating disturbances in the reproduction and sexual development in human beings and animals. These findings are seen in correlation with the increasing contamination of the environment with xenoestrogens. The importance of natural sexual steroids as a cause for this situation was poorly taken into account in the past. Therefore it was aimed by the study presented to contribute to knowledge in these questions. Samples of faeces were collected from 18 non pregnant and pregnant cows and their contents of estrogens and progesterone were analysed over a 12 weeks period as equivalent values of the standard substances estrone (E1) respectively 4-pregnene-20 beta-ol-3-one (20 beta P4) by using an enzyme immunoassay. The values of the substances of concern are decreasing gradually during the period of time examined. The median of the E1-equivalent dropped below the starting value in the ninth week, but the 20 beta P4-equivalent reached this level just in the second week. After the 12 weeks of observation under ambient temperature of 20 to 23 degrees C the examined equivalents of E1 and 20 beta P4 showed about 20% respectively 8% of the values measured at the beginning of the study.
Schlenker
G
G
Institut für Tier- und Umwelthygiene, Freien Universität Berlin.
Müller
W
W
Glatzel
P
P
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits
D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone