Tracking the Ovarian Cycle in Black-and-Gold Howlers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alouatta caraya</Emphasis>) by Measuring Fecal Steroids and Observing Vaginal Bleeding |
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Authors: | Tatiana Kugelmeier Rodrigo del Rio do Valle Marcelo Alcindo de Barros Vaz Guimarães José Augusto Pereira Carneiro Muniz Frederico Ozanan Barros Monteiro Cláudio Alvarenga de Oliveira |
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Institution: | 1.Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ), Departamento de Reprodu??o Animal (VRA),Universidade de S?o Paulo (USP),S?o Paulo,Brasil;2.Funda??o Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Centro de Cria??o de Animais de Laboratório (Cecal), Servi?o de Cria??o de Primatas n?o Humanos (SCPrim),Rio de Janeiro,Brasil;3.Ministério da Saúde (MS), Secretaria de Vigilancia em Saúde (SVS), Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC), Centro Nacional de Primatas (CENP),Ananindeua,Brasil;4.Universidade Federal Rural da Amaz?nia (UFRA), Instituto da Saúde e Produ??o Animal (ISPA),Belém,Brasil |
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Abstract: | A better understanding of a species’ reproductive physiology can help conservation programs to manage primates in the wild
and develop assisted reproductive technologies in captivity. We investigated whether measurements of fecal progestin and estrogen
metabolites obtained by a radioimmunoassay could be used to monitor the ovarian cycle of Alouatta caraya. We also compared the occurrence of vaginal bleeding with the hormone profiles. We collected fecal samples from 3 adult and
1 subadult captive female over 5 mo and performed vaginal cytology for the adults. The interval between fecal progestin surges
in the adult females was 19.11 ± 2.14 d (n = 18 cycles). Fecal progestin concentrations remained at basal values for 9.83 ± 2.21 d (n = 18) and rose to elevated values for 9.47 ± 0.72 d (n = 19). The subadult female showed basal levels of fecal estrogen and progestin concentrations throughout the study, suggesting
that our hormone measurements are valid to monitor the ovarian cycle. Bleeding periods coincided with basal levels of fecal
estrogens and progestin at intervals of 19.8 ± 0.9 d and lasted for 4.1 ± 1.0 d. Although we obtained these data from only
3 individuals, the results indicate that this species likely has a menstrual-type ovarian cycle. These data provide the first
endocrine profile for the Alouatta caraya ovarian cycle and are similar to results obtained for other howler species. This similarity is important for comparative
studies of howlers, allowing for a better understanding of their reproductive physiology and contributing to a critical information
base for managing Alouatta species. |
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