title: Plasma and fecal sex steroid hormone profiles during the estrous cycle in a Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus).
abstract: We aimed to determine plasma progesterone and estradiol-17beta concentrations, as well as fecal progesterone concentrations during the estrous cycle in a female 8-year-old Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus). The step frequencies during the night were recorded by a pedometer attached to the serow's hind leg from October to the following June. Estrous behavior was also monitored during the day. Blood samples were taken once a day from 8 February to 10 March from an indwelling catheter placed in the jugular vein. Fecal samples were taken once or twice a day from 1 January to 29 April. Plasma and fecal progesterone and plasma estradiol concentrations were determined using time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays. The estrus behavior observed lasted for 2-3 days. Peak step frequencies were recorded between November and April, at intervals of 17-19 days. Plasma progesterone concentrations remained elevated (1-7.7 ng/ml) for 12 days during non-estrus, and plasma estradiol concentrations were highest when the peak step frequency and estrous behavior were observed. Step frequency increased around the times fecal progesterone levels fell to basal levels. Progesterone concentrations in feces were significantly correlated with those in sera. Thus, measurement of fecal progesterone concentrations might be useful for monitoring the reproductive status of the Japanese serow.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Theriogenology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan.
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Togashi
authors.forename: Tsunenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deguchi
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kizaki
authors.forename: Sachika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Honjou
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Izaike
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Osawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003672:Defecation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005243:Feces; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol