title: Estrus behavior and fecal steroid profiles in the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) during natural and gonadotropin-induced estrus.
abstract: In this paper the behavior of the Asiatic lion was studied during natural and gonadotropin-induced estrus in relation to fecal estradiol and progesterone concentration. The average length of estrus was 5.4 days and no significant difference was observed between natural and gonadotropin-induced estrus. Vocalization and rolling were the major estrus behavioral activities of Asiatic lions and the frequency of these activities were similar in both natural and gonadotropin-induced estrus and treatment with exogenous gonadotropin did not alter estrus behavioral activities. A significant positive correlation was observed between fecal estradiol and frequency of estrus behavior during natural and gonadotropin-induced estrus. Following gonadotropin treatment estrus could be induced in 69% of animals and these induced animals ovulated following hCG treatment. This study reports for the first time the successful use of the non-invasive fecal steroid assay for monitoring the induction of estrus and ovulation in the Asiatic lion.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: Govindhaswamy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Umapathy
authors.forename: Sadanand D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Sontakke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasu
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kiran
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kholkute
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shivaji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D030762:Estrous Cycle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008045:Lions / Q000502:physiology*; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol