Cr. Pryce et al., DETERMINATION OF OVARIAN CYCLE IN GOELDIS MONKEY (CALLIMICO-GOELDII) VIA THE MEASUREMENT OF STEROIDS AND PEPTIDES IN PLASMA AND URINE, Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, 99(2), 1993, pp. 427-435
Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii) is an endangered species of New Wo
rld primate. The present study provides the first description of the n
on-conception ovarian cycle in this species based on circulating repro
ductive steroid and peptide hormones. The data obtained were used to v
alidate a non-invasive system for monitoring cyclicity based on urinar
y reproductive steroid metabolites. Nine sexually mature females were
studied. In three females, matched blood and urine samples were collec
ted once every 2-3 days for 90-120 days; in three other females, match
ed blood and urine samples were collected daily for 14-20 days for one
peri-ovulatory period; and in the remaining three females, urine samp
les only were collected once every 1-3 days for 40-60 days. Plasma pro
gesterone, oestrone-3-conjugates and bioactive LH were measured, in ad
dition to urinary pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide and oestrone-3-conj
ugates. The mean maximum concentration of plasma LH occurred 1-2 days
before a significant rise in plasma progesterone, which was considered
to occur 1 day after ovulation. On the basis of plasma progesterone t
itres, the duration of the ovarian cycle was estimated as 23.9 +/- 0.4
days (n = 9), and constituted a follicular phase of 10.7 +/- 0.3 days
and a luteal phase of 13.5 +/- 0.3 days. Urinary pregnanediol-3 alpha
-glucuronide demonstrated a high correlation with plasma progesterone
(r = 0.8), and demonstrated a significant rise at the same time as pla
sma progesterone. Application of this urinary progesterone metabolite
to determine whether a female was in a follicular phase (pregnanediol-
3 alpha-glucuronide < 0.20 mu g mg(-1) creatinine) or a luteal phase (
pregnanediol-3 alpha-glucuronide > 0.20 mu g mg(-1) creatinine) provid
ed an accurate and reliable non-invasive system for monitoring reprodu
ctive state and timing ovulation in this endangered primate. Urinary o
estrone-3-conjugates were less accurate and reliable than pregnanediol
-3 alpha-glucuronide: while plasma and urinary oestrone-3-conjugates w
ere generally higher during the Luteal phase than during the follicula
r phase, a marked increase in their concentration did not occur until
3-5 days after inferred ovulation.