Monitoring ovarian cycles and pregnancy in brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) by measurement of fecal progesterone metabolites.
In the present study, pregnancy and the estrous cycle were monitored in captive brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) by measuring fecal progestagens with a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA), along with behavioral data. Fecal samples were collected twice a week during pregnancy and daily during the estrous cycle and post-partum period. It was possible to distinguish between inter-luteal and luteal phases of the estrous cycle. Behavioral estrus corresponded with low concentrations of fecal progestagens. Samples from two consecutive cycles were available from five hinds, and the mean estrous cycle (n=10) was 26.9+/-1.7 d (mean+/-S.E.M.). However, when two extreme cycles (34 and 37 d) were deleted, the mean estrous cycle was 24.7+/-1.2 d. Three animals became pregnant (gestation ranged from 208 to 215 d). After fertile breeding, progestagen concentration in these hinds remained among luteal phase concentrations throughout pregnancy, with the exception of a few peaks. Within 4 d post-partum, two hinds reached interluteal phase values, while one hind maintained luteal concentrations for at least 1 week.
Pós-graduação Departamento de Reprodução Animal, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil. ric_jose_garcia@yahoo.com.br
Ricardo José Garcia
RJ
Pereira
Bruna Furlan
BF
Polegato
Simone
S
de Souza
João Alberto
JA
Negrão
José Maurício Barbanti
JM
Duarte
D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D011372:Progestins / Q000032:analysis
D011372:Progestins; D011374:Progesterone