Oestrous cycle of the common wombat, Vombatus ursinus, in Victoria, Australia.
Wild-caught female common wombats from Victoria, Australia, were studied in captivity to investigate the oestrous cycle by assessing vaginal cytology and peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations. Eight wombats, five adults (21-29 kg) and three subadults (19-23 kg), which were held for between 2 weeks and 11 months did not cycle in captivity. Their progesterone concentrations were consistently low (< or = 6.9 nmol L(-1)) and vaginal smears contained predominantly superficial epithelial cells. Three wombats (21-27 kg), held in captivity for >1 year, regularly cycled (when bodyweights exceeded 23.5 kg). Information gathered from four consecutive cycles in each of these three wombats revealed a follicular phase with low progesterone concentrations (< or = 6.9 nmol L(-1)) and vaginal smears with a high percentage of superficial epithelial cells alternating with periods of high progesterone concentrations (range 41.6-123.8 nmol L(-1)) and smears in which parabasal-intermediate epithelial cells predominated. The average length of the monitored oestrous cycles was 47.2 days (35-60 days). The follicular phase lasted ~19 days and the luteal phase lasted ~28 days. In conclusion, wombats can cycle regularly in captivity even under conditions of intensive monitoring.
Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Clayton, Vic, Australia. mattwest@dodo.com.au
M
M
West
D
D
Galloway
J
J
Shaw
A
A
Trouson
M C J
MC
Paris
D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001835:Body Weight; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D011374:Progesterone