Analysis of the Estrous Cycle of the Laboratory-Housed Senegal Galago (Galago senegalensis senegalensis) : Natural and Induced Cycles

Darney, Kirwin J.; Franklin, L.E.

doi:10.1159/000156024

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Interestingly, the calculated ovarian cycle length obtained in the current study (33.4 days) is less than the 38.5 days observed by Lipschitz (1996), but rather similar to that of the closely related and similar sized Senegal galago (31.7-32.9 days, G. senegalensis, Darney and Franklin 1982;Manley 1966). The difference observed in ovarian cycle length between G. moholi populations may be the result of different non-invasive methodological approaches (urine vs faecal steroid metabolite analysis) and sampling intervals.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Female reproductive activity and its endocrine correlates in the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi

et al. 2015

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Steroid hormones play an important role in female reproductive physiology and behaviour and are often used to monitor important female reproductive events. However, such studies are often attempted on captive populations alone, delivering limited data. One such example is the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi, for which contradicting observational data exist between captive and free-ranging populations, while hormonal analyses have only been obtained from a single captive population. To extend and rectify the limited information, we monitored faecal progestagen and oestrogen metabolite levels across various important life history stages of both captive and free-ranging G. moholi. We additionally recorded changes 2 in vaginal state as well as the occurrence of reproductive and aggressive behaviour throughout the study. Data from our captive population revealed an ovarian cycle length of 33.44 ± 0.59 days (mean ± SD), with follicular and luteal phases of 14.2 ± 1.0 and 19.1 ± 1.5 days, respectively, and an average pregnancy length of 128 ± 3.3 days. The initiation of female reproductive activity was closely linked to an oestrus-related increase in faecal oestrogen metabolite levels. Four of the seven captive females monitored in our study conceived during the May mating period, with one additional female fertilised in September, supporting the idea that the September mating period functions as a back-up for female G. moholi. Identified benchmark faecal progestagen metabolite levels (non-pregnant: > 1 µg/g dry weight (DW), pregnant: > 9 µg/g DW) should help researchers to determine pregnancy-status of randomly wild-caught females in even a cross-sectional study set-up.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 66%

Female reproductive activity and its endocrine correlates in the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi

et al. 2015

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“…In these females, the oestrous cycle length is about 40 days which is very similar to the cycle length recorded in prosimians from hormonal evaluations: 40 days in Lemur variegatus and L. catta, 33 days in L. macaco and 44 days in Galago crassicaudatus (Eaton, Slob & Resko, 1973;Van Horn & Resko, 1977;Bogart, Kumamoto & Lasley, 1977). In contrast, the oestrous cycle length in mouse lemurs differs from those recorded by vaginal or behavioural examinations in Cheirogaleus médius (19 days) and C. major and Microcebus coquereli (30 days) (Petter-Rousseaux, 1962, 1980Foerg, 1982) and seems closer to those of lorisids (Petter-Rousseaux, 1962;Vincent, 1968;Darney & Franklin, 1982;Izard & Rasmussen, 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Social influences on oestrous cycle length and plasma progesterone concentrations in the female lesser mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)

Perret¹

1986

Reproduction

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Plasma progesterone concentrations were recorded during one breeding season in 19 lesser mouse lemur females living in different social conditions. The oestrous cycle length and the progesterone profile mainly depended on the social environment of the female. For totally isolated females, the oestrous cycle lasted 38 +/- 5.7 days and included a 25-30-days spontaneous luteal phase with a progesterone peak about 100 ng/ml between the 20th and 25th days after oestrus, and a prolonged preovulatory period of 10-15 days which could be considered equivalent to the follicular phase of a menstrual cycle. When females were able to communicate through olfactory, visual and auditory signals, the oestrous cycle was significantly lengthened (53.7 +/- 5.9 days). When females had tactile contacts, the oestrous cycle was further lengthened (62.7 +/- 0.8 days). This lengthening of the oestrous cycle was related to an extension of the luteal phase associated with a decrease in progesterone concentrations during this period. In females maintained with one male (paired) or with males and females (heterosexually grouped), large individual variations were shown in cycle lengths or in progesterone concentrations. In these females, cycle lengths and progesterone concentrations were inversely correlated to plasma cortisol concentrations.

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“…They tend to be solitary foragers (eating arthropods and plant exudates), but apparently sleep gregariously, nesting in dense vegetation, tree forks, or hollows (Bearder 1986; Nash 2003; Pullen et al 2000). They are polygynous and typically breed twice a year (Bearder 1986); females cycle year-round under captive conditions, with an estrous cycle of 29 to 39 days (Darney and Franklin 1982). Twin births are the norm and females may produce two litters a year (Bearder 1986).…”

Section: Some Candidate Species For Aging Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Development of Small Primate Models for Aging Research

Fischer¹,

Austad²

2011

ILAR Journal

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Nonhuman primate (NHP) aging research has traditionally relied mainly on the rhesus macaque. But the long lifespan, low reproductive rate, and relatively large body size of macaques and related Old World monkeys make them less than ideal models for aging research. Manifold advantages would attend the use of smaller, more rapidly developing, shorter-lived NHP species in aging studies, not the least of which are lower cost and the ability to do shorter research projects. Arbitrarily defining “small” primates as those weighing less than 500 g, we assess small, relatively short-lived species among the prosimians and callitrichids for suitability as models for human aging research. Using the criteria of availability, knowledge about (and ease of) maintenance, the possibility of genetic manipulation (a hallmark of 21st century biology), and similarities to humans in the physiology of age-related changes, we suggest three species—two prosimians (Microcebus murinus and Galago senegalensis) and one New World monkey (Callithrix jacchus)—that deserve scrutiny for development as major NHP models for aging studies. We discuss one other New World monkey group, Cebus spp., that might also be an effective NHP model of aging as these species are longer-lived for their body size than any primate except humans.

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Analysis of the Estrous Cycle of the Laboratory-Housed Senegal Galago (Galago senegalensis senegalensis) : Natural and Induced Cycles

Cited by 16 publications

References 10 publications

Female reproductive activity and its endocrine correlates in the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi

Female reproductive activity and its endocrine correlates in the African lesser bushbaby, Galago moholi

Social influences on oestrous cycle length and plasma progesterone concentrations in the female lesser mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)

The Development of Small Primate Models for Aging Research

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