title: Frozen embryos? Torpor during pregnancy in the Tasmanian short-beaked echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus setosus.
abstract: We studied the interaction between torpor and reproduction in free-ranging female Tasmanian echidnas using a combination of techniques including urogenital smears, hormone analysis, ultrasonography, external temperature loggers and camera traps. Male echidnas initiated mating activity by locating hibernating females. All females that mated or were disturbed by males prior to July 27 re-entered hibernation, including many that were pregnant. Pregnant females only entered hibernation in early pregnancy when plasma progesterone concentrations were about twice basal and progesterone then remained constant during torpor. By re-entering hibernation pregnant females extended their gestation period and delayed egg-laying. Progesterone peaked 4-6days before egg-laying, then dropped rapidly.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Gemma E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Sue M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Australia. Electronic address: s.c.nicol@utas.edu.au.
authors.forename: Stewart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Nicol
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006605:Hibernation; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D004442:Tachyglossidae / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D064348:Torpor / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Monotreme; Progesterone; Reproduction; Torpor; Vaginal cytology