title: Assessment of ovarian activity in captive goral (Naemorhedus griseus) using noninvasive fecal steroid monitoring.
abstract: To date, there is no information on gonadal steroidogenic activity of female goral (Naemorhedus griseus), a threatened species of Thailand. Captive goral populations have been established to produce animals for ex situ conservation and reintroduction, but as yet none are self-sustaining. The objectives of the present study were to (1) determine the influence of season on ovarian steriodogenic function; and (2) examine the relationship between gonadal hormone excretion and sexual behaviors throughout the year. Fecal samples were collected 5 to 7 days/wk for 15 months from 8 adult females housed at Omkoi Wildlife Breeding Center in Thailand and analyzed for ovarian steroid metabolites using validated enzyme immunoassays. Observations of sexual behaviors and mating were conducted each morning for 30 min/session. Based on fecal estrogen and progestagen metabolite concentrations, the overall estrous cycle length was about 21 days, with a 2- to 3-day follicular phase and an 18- to 20-day luteal phase. Sexual behaviors, most notably tail-up, increased for 2 to 3 days during the time estrogens were elevated during mating. Fecal progestagens were elevated during luteal phases and increased further during gestation, which lasted approximately 7 months. The lactation period was 5 months, and females were anestrus for 2 to 5 of those months, with the exception of one that cycled continuously throughout. Two females conceived around 2 months postpartum and so were pregnant during lactation. Birth records over the past 21 years indicated young are born throughout the year. This combined with the hormonal data suggests that female gorals are not strongly seasonal, at least in captivity, although there was considerable variation among females in estrogen and progestagen patterns. In conclusion, fecal steroid metabolite monitoring is an effective means of assessing ovarian function in this species and will be a useful tool for breeding management and planned development of assisted reproductive techniques such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Electronic address: jaruwan.khonmee@cmu.ac.th.
authors.forename: Jaruwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khonmee
authors.affiliation: Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Janine L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taya
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Suvichai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojanasthien
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Veerasak
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Punyapornwithaya
authors.affiliation: Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Omkoi, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Dissakul
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thumasanukul
authors.affiliation: Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Omkoi, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Adisorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kongphoemphun
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Conservation Research and Education, Zoological Park Organization, Dusit, Bankok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Boripat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siriaroonrat
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Conservation Research and Education, Zoological Park Organization, Dusit, Bankok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wanlaya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tipkantha
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Aquatic Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Petai
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pongpiachan
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animals and Wildlife Clinics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Chatchote
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thitaram
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001188:Artiodactyla / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D013256:Steroids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids
keywords: Estrogen metabolites; Goral; Noninvasive hormone monitoring; Ovarian function; Progestagen metabolites; Reproduction