ASSESSMENT OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE STATUS IN CAPTIVE-HOUSED HANUMAN LANGURS (PRESBYTIS-ENTELLUS) BY MEASUREMENT OF URINARY AND FECAL STEROID-EXCRETION PATTERNS
M. Heistermann et al., ASSESSMENT OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE STATUS IN CAPTIVE-HOUSED HANUMAN LANGURS (PRESBYTIS-ENTELLUS) BY MEASUREMENT OF URINARY AND FECAL STEROID-EXCRETION PATTERNS, American journal of primatology, 37(4), 1995, pp. 275-284
The study reports on the use of urinary and fecal hormone measurements
for monitoring female reproductive status in captive-housed Hanuman l
angurs (Presbytis entellus). Matched urine and fecal samples collected
throughout 7 complete menstrual cycles of two females, and during par
t of one pregnancy in a third female were analyzed. Estrone conjugates
(E1C) and immunoreactive pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) in urine and
immunoreactive estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), pregnanediol (Pd) an
d 20 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (20 alpha OHP) in feces were measured b
y enzymeimmunoassay. E1C and PdG in urine were excreted in a cyclic pa
ttern with E1C levels increasing 3- to 4-fold during the follicular ph
ase to reach preovulatory peak values 2 days before a defined rise in
PdG concentrations. Cycle lengths ranged between 20 and 34 days compri
sing a variable follicular phase of 7-21 days and a more consistent lu
teal phase of 12-14 days. High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) a
nalysis of fecal extracts confirmed the presence of all fecal hormones
measured, but indicated large amounts of additional immunoreactivity
in the three progestin assays. The patterns of excretion of fecal E2 a
nd all three fecal progestins corresponded well with those of steroid
metabolites in urine in showing a clear and well defined follicular ph
ase E2 rise followed by a luteal phase progestin increase. Measurement
of 20 alpha OHP immunoreactivity revealed the most stable baseline an
d the highest follicular/luteal phase differential. Levels of all horm
ones were clearly elevated during pregnancy although urinary E1C and P
dG showed a more pronounced increase compared to fecal metabolites. Th
e results indicate that urinary and fecal hormone analysis can be appl
ied to noninvasive monitoring of reproductive status in the Hanuman la
ngur. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.