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PubMed1984

The postovulatory cat oviduct and uterus: correlation of morphological features with progesterone receptor levels.

Oviducts and uteri were obtained from cats at estrus and up to 14 days after coitus. Progesterone binding sites were estimated by Scatchard analysis, serum levels of progesterone were determined by radioimmunoassay, nd key morphological parameters of the lining of the epithelium of the oviduct and the deep uterine glands were quantitated. Progesterone cytosol binding was highest at estrus, significantly depleted by day 4, and continued a gradual decline out to day 14 in both tissues. Nuclear binding was markedly elevated at day 4; with time the binding decreased until by day 14 it was equal to or lower than that detected at estrus. The initial depletion of cytosol binding and rise in nuclear binding coincided with the initial rise in serum progesterone levels. Within the oviduct, the increase in nuclear binding coincided with the onset of regressive changes within the epithelium. These changes included atrophy, deciliation, and apoptosis. Within the uterine glands, the increase in nuclear binding coincided with the onset of the progestational response. This response included cell hypertrophy, glycogen synthesis and deposition, and with longer exposure to elevated levels of progesterone, the disappearance of these glycogen deposits. These results clearly illustrate the immediate effect of low levels of progesterone on the subcellular compartmentalization of the progesterone receptor system, and the down regulation of the total receptor system when target tissues are exposed to a continuous elevation of serum progesterone. These results also illustrate that similar changes in receptor compartmentalization induce different morphological responses within target tissues from the same animal.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Estrus synchronization in cattle using estradiol, melengestrol acetate and PGF.

In Experiment 1, all cattle were fed MGA (0.5 mg/head/d) for 7 d (designated Days 0 to 6) and given PGF on Day 6. One-half were administered estradiol valerate (EV; 5 mg, im) on Day 0. At Location 1, a higher proportion (P < 0.005) of EV-treated heifers were detected in estrus and bred by AI between Days 7 and 13 than control heifers not receiving EV (27 of 33 versus 15 of 32), but the number of pregnancies (12 vs 10) was not significantly different. Eighty-three of 104 EV-treated and 89 of 106 control cows were inseminated, resulting in 50 and 45 pregnancies, respectively (not significant). At Location 2, cattle were similarly treated and exposed to bulls on Days 7 to 49. Fall pregnancy rate was higher (P < 0.015) for EV-treated than control heifers (44 of 48 vs 33 of 46), but was not significantly different for cows (22 of 26 vs 19 of 23). In Experiment 2, estradiol 17beta (E17beta; 5 mg, im) and progesterone (100 mg, im) were administered on Day 0 (instead of EV). In a third group (designated the PGF group), cattle were bred on Days 0 to 6, and PGF was administered on Day 6 to those not yet bred. For 213 cows, the percentage pregnant to a synchronized estrus was greater in the PGF group (72%) than in either the control group treated with MGA (49%; P = 0.005) or the group receiving MGA and E17beta (54%; P < 0.025). Fall pregnancy rates were 91, 89, and 96% for the 213 cows (not significant) and 89, 93, and 98% for 131 heifers (not significant) in the PGF, MGA and E17beta groups, respectively. In cattle without a functional CL, the average diameter of the largest follicle at Day 6 was 1 to 2 mm smaller in the E17beta + MGA group than in the MGA group (difference significant only in cows at Location 1). Combined for both locations, the synchronized pregnancy rate in heifers without a functional CL on Day 6 was higher (P < 0.05) in the E17beta + MGA group than in the MGA group (11 of 21, 52% versus 4 of 20, 20%). Estrogen treatment caused regression of ovarian follicles with emergence of a new follicular wave. Including estrogen in an estrus synchronization program utilizing MGA and PGF significantly increased fall pregnancy rate in heifers (at 1 location) and the synchronized pregnancy rate of heifers without a functional CL at the time of PGF treatment (combined for both locations).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Evaluation of oestrus observation and conception rates in suckling beef cows using whole milk progesterone concentration.

A 2-sample regime was used to measure whole milk progesterone concentration on the day of oestrus and insemination (Day 0) and 6 days later (Day 6) in a sample of 50 primiparous and 100 multiparous suckling beef cows. Exposure to teaser bulls and observation by cattlemen identified the occurrence of oestrus. Three sets of criteria used to define ovulatory oestrus were compared: a) milk progesterone concentration less than 6 nmol/l on Day 0; b) milk progesterone less than 6 nmol/l on Day 0 and rising to greater than 6 nmol/l on Day 6; c) milk progesterone less than 6 nmol/l on Day 0 and rising to greater than 6 nmol/l on Day 6, or cow diagnosed pregnant to 1st insemination. Using only a single milk sample on Day 0 (criterion a) would have resulted in the positive predictive value of heat detection being estimated at 98.7%. Using a pair ed measurement (criterion b) resulted in a significantly lower estimate of 84.7%. The inclusion of cows that conceived despite not showing a marked rise in milk progesterone concentration (criterion c) resulted in a more accurate estimate of 89.3 %. Use of a 2-sample regime also allowed calculation of conception rates while eliminating the effect of heat detection errors. In the cows sampled, of those in ovulatory oestrus that were inseminated, 73.1% conceived to the 1st insemination. These results demonstrate that artificial insemination within a limited breeding season can be successful if nutrition is optimal and management is intensive. The use of a 2-sample milk progesterone test may be a valuable tool in investigating heat detection and conception problems in beef herds in which artificial insemination is used.

Animals↗

PubMed1978

Effect of melengestrol acetate on growth and reproduction in rats.

Effects of melengestrol acetate on reproductive performance of 48 female rats and 20 of their female progeny were evaluated in two experiments. Treatments of 0, .01, and .1 mg in .1 ml of propylene glycol were given three groups of 16 rats for 7 days. From day 7 following sperm detection (10-day breeding period), half from each group received .1 mg per day for 14 days. Experiment 2 tested performance of 10 progeny exposed or unexposed to in utero treatment. Cyclic changes in Experiment 1 were inhibited only in animals receiving daily initial treatment of .1 mg. Estrus was detected in 61.5% of animals within 48 h of treatment withdrawal. Synchronization caused no significant changes in conception rates or postbreeding results of treatment. Treatment during gestation lowered weight gain for dams, increased gestation length, and decreased number of pups per litter. Treatment lowered mean weight per litter and weight per pup. It also caused high mortality among pups. In Experiment 2, there were no differences between progeny groups in gestation length, litter size, weight per litter, weight per pup, or mortality rate.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Short-term treatment with a controlled internal drug releasing (CIDR) device and FSH to induce fertile estrus and increase prolificacy in anestrous ewes.

The objectives were to evaluate, in anestrous ewes, the effectiveness of a CIDR-G device (0.3 g progesterone) administered for 5 d to induce estrus; and FSH (Folltropin; 55 mg NIH-FSH-P1 equivalent) in saline:propylene glycol (1:4) 24 h before insert removal (Day 0), to increase ovulation rate and prolificacy. Ewes of mixed breeding were assigned at random to 3 treatments: control (C; n = 125), 5 d progesterone (P5; n = 257) and 5 d progesterone plus FSH (P5F; n = 271). Intact rams were joined at insert removal and ewes were observed every 24 h for 3 d. On Day 14, the ovulation rates of all ewes detected in estrus in the treated groups were determined using transrectal ultrasonography. Rams were removed on Day 26 to 31. Ewes were examined for pregnancy then, and again 20 to 25 d later to detect ewes that conceived to the second service period. Percentage of ewes marked by rams was higher in progesterone-treated (77%) than in C (20%; P < 0.01), but did not differ between P5 and P5F. The ovulation rate (1.95+/-0.04) did not differ due to FSH. Conception (68%) and pregnancy (52%) rates were higher in progesterone-treated (P < 0.01) than in C (0%) ewes. Estrous response varied quadratically with time after ram introduction, and the conception rate varied quadratically with the time of observation of onset of estrus. Over two service periods more progesterone-treated than C ewes lambed (65 vs 45%; P < 0.01). Lambs born per ewe exposed (0.7+/-0.1, 1.0+/-0.1, and 1.1+/-0.1 for C, P5 and P5F, respectively) was increased by progesterone (P < 0.05). Litter size to the first service period (1.59+/-0.04) and overall (1.54+/-0.03) did not differ among treatment groups. FSH-treated ewes tended to have more lambs (1.67+/-0.1) than did ewes receiving progesterone alone (1.5+/-0.1; P = 0.06) and than did ewes lambing to the second service period (1.5+/-0.1; P = 0.06). In summary, a 5-d progesterone pre-treatment of anestrous ewes induced estrous cycles and increased the pregnancy rates. A single injection of FSH only tended to increase litter size.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Pattern of circulating luteinizing hormone isoforms during the estrous and luteal phases in Holstein heifers.

The pattern of distribution of circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) isoforms in cattle during estrus and the luteal phase was investigated. In each stage, the stage of the estrous cycle was synchronized in seven Holstein heifers with a prostaglandin analogue. After estrus was detected, blood samples were taken at 2-h intervals for 24h. In the luteal phase, animals received 250 microg i.v. of GnRH and blood samples were collected every 15 min for 5h. LH concentration in the samples was determined. Samples with the greatest LH concentration in estrus (pre-ovulatory peak) and those collected 60 min after GnRH administration (luteal phase) were analyzed by chromatofocusing, eluted with a pH gradient from 10.5 to 3.5. Eluted LH was grouped into basic (pH > or = 7.5), neutral (pH 7.4-6.5) and acidic isoforms (pH < or = 6.4) as well as by pH unit. In both phases, basic forms were the most abundant, and these were greater (P < 0.05) during the luteal phase (78.4 +/- 4.2%) as compared with during estrus (57.1 +/- 6.2%); the proportion of neutral and acidic isoforms in estrus (13.7 +/- 2.6%; 28.5 +/- 2.8%) was greater (P < 0.05) as compared with the luteal phase (3.0 +/- 0.7; 18.7 +/- 3.4). These results indicate that the relative proportion of LH isoforms secreted by the adenohypophysis differ by stage of estrous cycle. The addition of excess of NaCl to the column modifies the antigen-antibody binding in the RIA, and the proteins eluted are erroneously quantified as LH; this is an artifact of the technique.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Distribution and regulation of ENaC subunit and CFTR mRNA expression in murine female reproductive tract.

The present study investigated the regional distribution and cyclic changes in the mRNA expression of epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) subunit and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-activated Cl- channel, in adult female mouse reproductive tract. In situ hybridization revealed that in contrast to the abundant expression of CFTR, ENaC (alpha, beta, gamma) mRNA signal was not detected throughout the estrus cycle in the ovary and oviduct. Messenger RNA for all ENaC subunits was abundantly detected in the cervical and vaginal epithelia throughout the estrus cycle but for CFTR, mRNA was found only at proestrus. In the uterine epithelium, alphaENaC mRNA was detected at diestrus but not found at any other stage, while CFTR mRNA was only detected at early estrus but not other stages. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR detected mRNA for all ENaC subunits in the uterus throughout the cycle with maximal expression at diestrus and CFTR mRNA was only found in the early stages of the cycle. The involvement of ENaC and CFTR in Na+ absorption and Cl- secretion was demonstrated in cultured endometrial epithelia using the short-circuit current technique and found to be influenced by ovarian hormones. Taken together, these data indicate a main secretory role of the ovary and oviduct and a predominantly absorptive role of the cervix and vagina. The present results also suggest an ability of the uterus to secrete and absorb at different stages of the estrus cycle. Variations in the fluid profiles may be dictated by the regional and cyclic variations in expression of ENaC and CFTR and are likely to contribute to various reproductive events in different regions of the female reproductive tract.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Ovarian follicular and corpus luteum changes, progesterone concentrations, estrus and ovulation following estradiol benzoate/progesterone based treatment protocol in cross-bred cows.

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of the stage of the estrous cycle at the start of an estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P) based treatment protocol on new follicular wave emergence, subsequent estrus and ovulation. The experiment was conducted using a crossover design with each cow (five cross-bred cows) being assigned to one of three groups at 3-month intervals within a 1-year period. Estrous cycle stage in individual cows was initially synchronized with prostaglandin F(2)alpha. After detection of estrus, each cow was injected intramuscularly (i.m.) with 2 mg EB and 200 mg P (EB/P) on day 5, 12 or 17 of the estrous cycle (estrus=day 0), followed by 1 mg EB i.m. 12 days after the EB/P treatment. Ovarian ultrasonographic examinations showed that the emergence of a new follicular wave occurred after EB/P treatment in all groups and the mean interval from EB/P treatment to wave emergence did not differ among the groups (3.2-3.8 days). All cows in each group exhibited behavioral estrus and ovulated the newly formed dominant follicle. However, cows in the day-17 group exhibited estrus 1-3 days before the second EB injection. The concentrations of progesterone showed faster reduction, during the treatment period, in the day-12 and -17 groups compared to the day-5 group. These results indicate that the EB/P treatment induces an emergence of a new follicular wave, irrespective of the estrous cycle stage at the start of treatment, but the effect of EB/P protocol on estrous/ovulation synchronization is influenced by the stage of the estrous cycle.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Puberty and serum concentrations of ovarian steroids during prepuberal period in Friesian heifers artificially infected with Fasciola hepatica.

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of fascioliasis on puberty in 13 Friesian heifers divided into a control group (n = 7) and an infected group (n = 6). At 4 m.o. of age each infected heifer received 600 metacercariae of F. hepatica. Blood samples were taken twice a week, at which time permanent heat mount detectors were checked, from 8 m.o. of age until 2 estruses were detected in all heifers. Serum concentrations of progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17 beta (E2) were assayed by ELISA and RIA, respectively. There was a significant delay in the onset of puberty in infected heifers compared with controls. All animals reached puberty at similar body weights but at different ages. First estrus was delayed by 39 d in infected compared with control animals. Serum concentrations of E2 were significantly higher in the infected group than the control group, while P4 concentrations were lower. Fascioliasis alters the serum concentration of E2, which in turn results in an abnormally low concentration of P4, probably due to underdeveloped or absent corpora lutea.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

[Management of reproduction in large dairy herds under Moroccan conditions. III. Resumption of heat and anestrus after natural insemination].

This study aims at determining both the accuracy and the rate of heat detection together with the so-called post-insemination anoestrus incidence in four Moroccan dairy herds under natural or semi-hand mating insemination. 369 females (cows and heifers) were involved from 4 large dairy units in which a herd fertility survey took place on a weekly basis. Heat detection was performed several times a day by the herdsman. Blood was sampled for plasma progesterone (P) determination on the oestrus and the mating day, on day 12 later as well as on day 21 after mating. Accuracy (A) was defined as the ratio of correct oestrus on detected oestrus during the mating days. Heat detection rate (R) was defined as the ratio of oestrus detected on oestrus expected, according to the P values 21 days after mating when the females were confirmed to be cycling. Post-insemination incidence was the complementary ratio to the latter. In the Moroccan dairy unit conditions, A = 91 p. 100, and R = 49 p. 100, the post-insemination anoestrus incidence was therefore just over 50 per cent. The distribution of the non-in-heat but mated females (9 per cent) allows two roughly equal sub-populations to be distinguished: those mated in mid-luteal phase and those with a 1-2 day overlap between the follicular phase and the oestrus. Finally the high incidence of post-insemination anoestrus demonstrates the inadequacy of heat detection for pregnancy diagnosis even under natural or semi-hand mating conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anestrus↗

PubMed1998

Synchronization of estrus with PGF2 alpha administered 18 days after a progesterone treatment in lactating dairy cows.

In a previous study we showed that estrus synchronization with 2 treatments of PGF2 alpha 13 d apart reduced conception rate at the synchronized estrus and that this reduction occurred mainly in cows in the early luteal phase at the second PGF2 alpha treatment. The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of a synchronization regimen in which PGF2 alpha was administered during the mid- to late-luteal phase to cows that had previously been synchronized with progesterone. Spring-calving cows from 6 dairy herds were used in this study. On Day -32 (Day 1 = the start of the breeding season), cows that had calved 2 or more weeks ago were randomly assigned to a synchronization (S, n = 732) or control (C, n = 731) group. Cows in Group S were treated with an intravaginal progesterone device (CIDR) for 12 d from Day -32 to Day -20, while those in Group C were left untreated. Similar percentages of cows in Group S (80.6%) and C (82.9%) had cycled by Day -7. The CIDR treatment synchronized the onset of estrus, resulting in 92.9% of cows in estrus being detected within 7 d after CIDR removal. Cows in Group S that had cycled by Day -7 were treated with PGF2 alpha (25 mg, i.m., Lutalyse) on Day -2. Cows in both groups that were anestrous on Day -7 were treated with a combination of progesterone and estradiol benzoate (EB) to induce estrus and ovulation (CIDR and a 10 mg EB capsule on Day -7, CIDR removal on Day -2, and injection of 1 mg EB 48 h after CIDR removal). The PGF2 alpha treatment synchronized the onset of estrus in 87.5% of the cows. Group S and C cows had similar conception rates to first (61.0 vs 58.3%) and second (58.4 vs 60.9%) AI; similar pregnancy rates over the AI period (82.8 vs 79.2%) and over the whole breeding season (91.9 vs 90.6%); and required a similar number of services per pregnancy to AI (1.7 vs 1.8). The interval from the start of the breeding season to conception for cows conceiving to AI or to combined AI and natural mating was shorter (P < 0.001) by 5.7 and 6.2 d, respectively, for the Group S cows. It is concluded that the treatment regimen tested in the present study achieved satisfactory estrus synchronization, had no detrimental effect on fertility at the synchronized estrus, and shortened the interval from start of the breeding season to conception.

Administration, Intravaginal↗

PubMed2000

Differential regulation of prolactin release and lactotrope proliferation during pregnancy, lactation and the estrous cycle.

The proestrous surge of prolactin (PRL) secretion and subsequent proliferation of lactotropes at estrus have been suggested to be induced by a common hypothalamic hormone. We investigated changes in lactotrope proliferation at other reproductive stages of female rats when PRL secretion was stimulated. To assess proliferative activity of lactotropes, incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) into DNA was measured by double immunostaining for PRL and BrdU. BrdU-labeling indices, determined by BrdU injections at 10.00 h, revealed low levels of proliferative activity of lactotropes at the reproductive stages including diestrus, days 6 and 13 of pregnancy, and day 6 of lactation while high levels were detected on estrus and the day of parturition. When BrdU-labeling indices were determined at 3-hour intervals through day 6 of pregnancy to find an increase in lactotrope proliferation which might occur at times other than 10.00 h, proliferative activity of lactotropes remained at low levels with a slight increase in the afternoon. Such a diurnal change as observed in early pregnancy was not detected on day 13 of pregnancy. In contrast, short-interval determinations of BrdU-labeling indices during a period from day 20 of pregnancy to day 2 of lactation revealed a marked increase in proliferative activity on the day of parturition with a peak at 18.00 h, which was comparable to that observed at estrus. To investigate involvement of ovarian steroids in suppression of lactotrope proliferation as observed during early pregnancy and lactation, ovariectomized and pup-removed lactating rats were given one of treatment combinations of estradiol and suckling. In pup-removed lactating rats, estradiol treatment alone induced neither a PRL surge nor an increase in BrdU-labeling indices. Suckling stimuli, which were effective in increasing serum PRL concentrations irrespective of estradiol treatment, elicited a marked increase in BrdU-labeling indices in the presence of estradiol but not in its absence. These results suggest that proliferative activity of rat lactotropes does not necessarily correlate with PRL secretion during pregnancy and lactation. In contrast to PRL release, lactotrope proliferation requires both a hypophysiotropic stimulatory input from the hypothalamus and a sensitizing action of estradiol, an observation which may account for the fact that proliferation does not occur during pregnancy and lactation in spite of elevated PRL release.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

Husbandry methods predisposing to production diseases in dairy cows.

Errors in management, other than nutrition, which can be predisposing causes of disease, eg, walking on abrasive surfaces and prolonged standing in slurry (which precipitate lameness), faulty milking and a dirty environment (which are conducive to mastitis), breeding to produce oversized fetuses (leading to dystocia) and inefficient observation (leading to a failure to detect oestrus) are described. Nutritional factors affecting conception rates and the occurrence of the metabolic diseases, ketosis, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia are outlined.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1983

Fertilisation and embryonic survival rates in dairy cows culled as repeat breeders.

Seventy-three Friesian dairy cows culled as repeat breeders were slaughtered three to six, 16 to 19 or 40 to 49 days after insemination to establish fertilisation and embryo survival rates. Fertilisation rate following a single insemination was 72 per cent. The estimated embryo survival rates for days 16 to ¿19 and 40 to 49 were 67 per cent and 76 per cent, respectively. The previous breeding history of the cows showed that only eight (11 per cent) had consistently regular returns (18 to 24 days) to service. Fifty-three (75 per cent) had a combination of both long and short returns to service. Before service on experiment, 64 (89 per cent) cows had regular cycles and the six cows which repeated from the 40 to 49 days group, five (83 per cent) had regular return intervals. It is suggested that errors in oestrus detection contribute substantially to the problem of repeated returns to service of dairy cows in Ireland.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed1977

Some causes of wastage in beef cattle artificial breeding.

Causes of reproductive loss in beef cattle AI programs were inadequate oestrus detection, use of vasectomised bulls, reduced inseminator efficiency, inadequate nutrition and infectious reproductive diseases (vibriosis and IPV). Nine case histories were presented detailing the symptoms and diagnosis of low reproductive performance.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Influence of protein intake and feeding strategy on reproductive performance of dairy cows.

A study was conducted to determine the impact of dietary CP concentration (13 vs. 20%) and feeding strategy (total mixed ration vs. separate feeding of the forage and concentrate) on reproductive performance of 57 early lactation dairy cows. Cows were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Rations composed of 40% forage (50% grass-legume silage:50% corn silage) and 60% concentrate (DM basis) were fed from d 5 to 100 postpartum. Cows fed a total mixed ration had lower ruminal ammonia and plasma urea N concentrations compared with cows fed separately. Feeding strategy groups showed no differences in reproductive performance. Cows fed a 20% CP ration had higher CP intake, higher ruminal ammonia, and higher urea N concentration in plasma and vaginal mucus. There were no differences between low and high CP groups in days to first observed estrus (24 vs. 27), days to first service (55 vs. 59), days open (72 vs 82) or services per conception (1.5 vs. 1.8). Days to first estimated ovulation were longer (22 vs. 17) in the high vs. low CP groups, and there was an interaction between protein intake and lactation number. Cows managed with an intensive program for detection of estrus and for reproductive health did not show differences in reproductive efficiency when fed 13 or 20% CP rations.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Metabolic and endocrine changes associated with undernutrition in the peripubertal gilt.

The effect of feed restriction on circulating metabolites and metabolic and gonadotropic hormones was determined in Large White gilts. From 25 kg BW and 80 d of age, control gilts (CTRL, n = 10) were fed close to ad libitum intake, whereas restricted-fed gilts (REST, n = 10) were offered approximately 50% of the CTRL diet. Estrus was detected with a mature boar. Serial blood samples were collected at approximately 160 and 210 d of age from 0800 to 2000. A meal was supplied at 0900, and an i.v. injection of GnRH (80 ng/kg BW) was given at 1600. The gilts were slaughtered at 220 d of age. No REST and four CTRL gilts exhibited their first estrus between the two series of blood samplings. Feed intake, daily gain, and fat content of the carcass were reduced by 50% in REST gilts (P < .001). Preprandial concentrations of free fatty acids were significantly lower in CTRL gilts at 210 d of age than at 160 d and than in REST gilts at both ages. Within the CTRL group, concentrations were lower (P < .05) at both ages in gilts pubertal before 210 d than in others. After the meal, plasma insulin and urea increased in all gilts, whereas glucose increased and free fatty acids decreased in all except the 210-d CTRL gilts. The afternoon concentration of cortisol was slightly higher (P = .09) in REST than in CTRL gilts. The number of pulses and mean and interpulse concentrations of growth hormone did not show any clear variation with feed level and age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1987

Determination of oestrous condition in female mice is dependent upon time of day.

Mice were maintained in rooms with constant ambient conditions and a 12 h light:12 h dark daily light regimen with the lights on starting at 06:00 h. In Exp. I, detection of puberty, as measured by first vaginal oestrus, was recorded at significantly earlier ages when vaginal smears were taken at 04:00 or 08:00 h than at other times of the day. In Exp. II, adult females were detected as being in oestrus more frequently when vaginal smears were taken within 6 h before or after the onset of the light part of the cycle each day than at other times.

Animals↗