Comparative study of urinary reproductive hormones in great apes.
Urinary estrone conjugates (E(1)C), pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were determined by enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) during the normal menstrual cycle in the orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo. Furthermore, the data were compared to those levels in the human and long-tailed macaque. The results showed a typical preovulatory E(1)C surge and postovulatory increase in PdG in all species. The pattern of E(1)C during the menstrual cycle in the great apes more closely resembled the human than do the long-tailed macaque. A major difference of E(1)C pattern between these species appeared in the luteal phase. In the great apes and the human, E(1)C exhibited two peaks, the first peak detected at approximately mid cycle and the second peak detected during the luteal phase. On the other hand, in the long-tailed macaque, increase of E(1)C in the luteal phase was small or nonexistent. The gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo exhibited similar PdG trends. The orangutan excreted one tenth less PdG than these species during the luteal phase. The long-tailed macaque also excreted low levels of PdG. The patterns of FSH in orangutan, chimpanzee, bonobo and long-tailed macaque showed a marked mid-cycle rise and an early follicular phase rise, similar to those in the human. Comparing similar taxa, a large difference was found in FSH of gorilla; there were three peaks during the menstrual cycle. Thus, there is considerable species variation in the excretion of these hormones during the menstrual cycle and comparative studies could be approached with a single method. The methods and baseline data presented here provide the basis for a practical approach to evaluation and monitoring of ovarian events in the female great apes.
Shimizu
Keiko
K
Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan. shimizu@pri.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Udono
Toshifumi
T
Tanaka
Chihiro
C
Narushima
Etsuo
E
Yoshihara
Masato
M
Takeda
Masato
M
Tanahashi
Atsu
A
van Elsackar
Linda
L
Hayashi
Motoharu
M
Takenaka
Osamu
O
D000818:Animals; D004970:Estrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000652:urine*; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000652:urine; D019974:Pan paniscus / Q000652:urine*; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000652:urine*; D011148:Pongo pygmaeus / Q000652:urine*; D011276:Pregnanediol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013045:Species Specificity
C022270:pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide; D004970:Estrone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D011276:Pregnanediol