Hormonal profiles and the reproductive tract morphology of the Brown Bush baby(Galago garnerttii) during induced and non-induced oestrous cycles

Abstract

The aim of the study was first to characterize endocrine profiles of the brown bush-baby (Galago garnettii) during the oestrous cycle and during pregnancy. The second part looked at the effect of inducing gonadotropins on their oestrous cycles, hormonal profiles and morphology of the reproductive tract. Oestrus cycles of Galago garnettii were analyzed from daily observations of their external genitalia. Their plasma oestradiol and progesterone hormones were quantified by radioimmunoassay at various stages of the cycle. Vaginal oestrus was successfully induced by using FSH:LH-hCG combination. During treatment, blood samples were collected on alternate days and later analyzed. A pre-treatment of progesterone (Smg daily for S days) was f i rs+ given, followed by 2mg FSH:LH administered for 5 days. A single dose of 250 I.U. of hCG administered at the end of the treatment caused membrane regression in the colony-bred animals while the captured animals required a second injection of t.his dose given on the next days. Reproductive cycles of the non-induced animals did not show regularity from observations of their external genitalia. However, blood samples showed a pattern in their steroid levels. Peak levels of progesterone (meanisd) of 45ilOnmol/l were detected in the luteal phase that lasted for 19±5 days. A follicular phase with low progesterone (3±lnmol/l) lasted 23±9 days. Oestradiol peaks of 969±265 pmol/l were seen at the end of each phase. Two pregnant animals exhibited maximum levels of 1257 nmol/l and 3113 pmol/l of progesterone and oestradiol respectively. A correlation was deduced between the state of the external genitalia, behaviour and steroidal profiles. It was also evident that the inducing hormones exerted their effects on the reproductive tracts of all the animals.