Evaluation of the Follicular Cycle in Ball Pythons (Python regius)

Nielsen, Emily L.; Hespel, Adrien‐Maxence; Kottwitz, Jack J.; Cole, Robert

doi:10.5818/1529-9651-26.3-4.108

Cited by 6 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The animal’s reproductive status was clinically identified through ultrasonography. The follicular stages of development and degrees of calcification were observed from the ultrasound recording, and an absence of follicles indicates reproductive inactivity [ 4 , 18 , 44 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the wild, their breeding season is primarily from mid-September through mid-November, correlating with the rainy season. Royal pythons are oviparous and females lay an average clutch size of 6 eggs, although clutch sizes can range from 1 to 11 [ 2 – 4 ]. In captivity, with proper management of environmental factors, royal python can be bred during any time of the year, including in the winter period [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The ovaries of adult females present follicles throughout the year, but these are generally small in size. Due to increased body weight and environmental factors, follicles develop during the breeding season and will be reabsorbed in case of non-fertilization [ 4 , 5 ]. Upon ultrasound evaluation, follicles appear initially anechoic.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As vitellogenesis progresses, follicular diameter increases together with echogenicity, resulting in a typical soft tissue echogenicity [ 4 , 8 ]. At this point, follicles assume a target-like appearance [ 4 ]. The shape of follicles also tends to vary, changing from round to oval.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a clinical perspective, ovulation is associated with mid-body swelling. However, there are no published studies that claim that vitellogenesis and mid-body swelling coincide [ 4 ]. After the pre-egg laying shed, the female lays the eggs in an average of 30 days [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Monitoring the reproductive activity in captive bred female ball pythons (P. regius) by ultrasound evaluation and noninvasive analysis of faecal reproductive hormone (progesterone and 17β-estradiol) metabolites trends

Bertocchi

Pelizzone²,

Parmigiani

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

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The royal python (Python regius) is commonly bred in captivity. To have a successful breeding season, accurate monitoring of the reproductive activity is necessary. The use of non-invasive monitoring methods in exotics is important in order to minimize stress. For this purpose ultrasound has been anecdotally used to monitor royal python reproductive activity. However, there is limited information regarding the reproductive cycle of this species. The aim of the present study is to monitor the female reproductive cycle of the royal python using ultrasonography and gonadal steroid metabolite measurements in the faeces. The reproductive activity of one hundred twenty-nine adult female P. regius was examined during two consecutive years. We performed brief scans on non-anaesthetized snakes using a portable ultrasound system and a 10–12 MHz linear array transducer (MyLab™ 30 Gold, Esaote). Ultrasound features, dimension and echogenicity of the reproductive structures were determined. During the second reproductive cycle, the hormonal profiles of 30 animals were also evaluated, with a monthly collection of faecal samples. These samples were classified according to reproductive stage, as identified by ultrasonographic examination, and the mean faecal progesterone and 17β-estradiol levels were calculated using the results from an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Progesterone levels increased during the reproductive cycle. Estradiol levels showed greater variability, although they appeared to increase before coupling when compared to the levels between coupling and egg laying. The present study suggests that it is possible to identify different phases in the female royal python reproductive cycle: anovulatory phase, transition, folliculogenesis and embryogenesis. Ultrasound is also useful for identifying follicular regression or slugs. Gonadal steroid metabolite measurements from the faeces could help integrate reproductive information. The use of ultrasonography in addition to the steroid metabolite measurement in the faeces gives an accurate picture of ovarian activity in captive adult female royal pythons.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Monitoring the reproductive activity in captive bred female ball pythons (P. regius) by ultrasound evaluation and noninvasive analysis of faecal reproductive hormone (progesterone and 17β-estradiol) metabolites trends

Bertocchi

Pelizzone²,

Parmigiani

et al. 2018

PLoS ONE

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Reproductive Disorders in Snakes

Girolamo¹,

Selleri²

2017

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice

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Ultrasonographic and Computed Tomographic Characteristics of the Reproductive Cycle in Female Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo Calyptratus)

Cigler¹,

Dervas²,

Richter³

et al. 2023

Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine

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Female veiled chameleons, Chamaeleo calyptratus, have a high fecundity and fast maturation, which makes them a suitable model species for squamate reproduction. The authors investigated the morphological follicular development of a group of 20 healthy adult animals over a 12-mon period using ultrasonography (US) and CT. Four stages of follicular development could be distinguished by imaging diagnostics and were confirmed by histology: previtellogenesis, vitellogenesis, gravidity, and atresia. Using a linear ultrasound transducer (18 MHz), previtellogenic follicles could be visualized as small, round, hypoechoic structures. Identification of this stage was unreliable on CT. On US, vitellogenic follicles remained round and showed increasing echogenicity from the hypoechoic center outwards, displaying vinyl-like hyperechoic banding in later stages. On CT, early vitellogenic follicles were round, hyperdense structures, which reduced in density as they grew. A hyperdense inner ring with a hypodense central point characterized late vitellogenesis. Following ovulation, eggs became distinctly oval on both CT and US, with formation of a hyperdense or hyperechoic outer ring, respectively. Atresia followed in cases where no ovulation occurred, and was divided into yolky and cystic atresia. Sonographically, early yolky atretic follicles became unevenly shaped, packed against one another, and developed heterogenous content. Late atretic follicles were homogenous and reduced in size. Reduction of density and uneven shape were also observed on CT. Cystic atretic follicles developed an anechoic cavity with a dense peripheral accumulation of content. In many animals 2-3 generations of atretic follicles were observed without indication of impairment to the development of the newest batch of follicles. Thus, follicular atresia need not necessarily lead to a pathological condition in veiled chameleons, at least not within a few consecutive cycles.

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Evaluation of the Follicular Cycle in Ball Pythons (Python regius)

Cited by 6 publications

References 9 publications

Monitoring the reproductive activity in captive bred female ball pythons (P. regius) by ultrasound evaluation and noninvasive analysis of faecal reproductive hormone (progesterone and 17β-estradiol) metabolites trends

Monitoring the reproductive activity in captive bred female ball pythons (P. regius) by ultrasound evaluation and noninvasive analysis of faecal reproductive hormone (progesterone and 17β-estradiol) metabolites trends

Reproductive Disorders in Snakes

Ultrasonographic and Computed Tomographic Characteristics of the Reproductive Cycle in Female Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo Calyptratus)

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