| Abstract: | In this investigation, an attempt was made to identify the major urinary estrogen metabolites in the okapi by radioisotope infusion and by chromatographic separation procedures. The results suggest that the urinary estrogens are excreted in concentrations below the limit of sensitivity of conventional assay systems. In addition, a variety of contaminants with estrogenic immunoreactivity are present in okapi urine that are not necessarily correlated with follicular activity. A great proportion of circulating estrogen is eliminated in fecal material. However, the rate of elimination is slow, and the extraction procedures necessary to detect the metabolites are tedious, which would prevent the practical application of this procedure for monitoring follicular activity. |
