Progesterone and Estrogens in the Pregnant and Nonpregnant Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, and the Effects of Induced Ovulation
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Sawyer-Steffan, Joan E.; Kirby, Vicky L.; Gilmartin, William G.

doi:10.1095/biolreprod28.4.897

Cited by 68 publications

(62 citation statements)

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“…The levels of circulating progesterone indicate ovulatory activity and likely pregnancy in marine animals [7][8][9]. Robeck et al [10] reported that the levels of serum progesterone in female bottlenose dolphins were generally more than 3 ng/ml, and decreased to less than 1 ng/ml within 1 month, indicating ovulation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basal Body Temperature Method for Detecting Ovarian Cycle in the Captive Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)

et al. 2006

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Abstract.The relationship between basal body temperature and circulating progesterone levels were investigated in a female beluga. Body temperature and serum concentrations of progesterone were measured daily and at 2-4 week intervals respectively, in a female beluga that was in captivity for 7 years between 1996 and 2003. The beluga first ovulated in April, 2000 (13 years old). Thereafter, serum concentrations of progesterone showed cyclic changes, indicating that the ovulatory cycle had started. Serum concentrations of progesterone ranged from 0.1 ng/ml to 15.7 ng/ml. Body temperature also showed cyclic changes during the estrous cycle. Body temperature ranged from 34.9 to 35.9 C, and tended to reach the peak during the high progesterone phase. Mating behavior was observed during the low body temperature phase. The changes in body temperature positively correlated with the circulating progesterone levels. The length of the estrous cycle was 36.7 ± 3.9 (mean ± SEM) days based on the intervals between the days of mating behavior. This is the first report demonstrating that body temperature clearly changes during the estrous cycle in a captive female beluga. The present finding suggests that measurement of body temperature is a useful method for detecting the ovarian cycle of the beluga in captivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basal Body Temperature Method for Detecting Ovarian Cycle in the Captive Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)

et al. 2006

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“…Efforts to fully define serum hormonal profiles (reproductive steroids and gonadotropins) of the bottlenose dolphin around ovulation have not been entirely successful (Sawyer-Steffan & Kirby 1980, Sawyer-Steffan et al 1983, Schneyer et al 1985, Yoshioka et al 1986). Preovulatory estradiol (E2) levels observed in one animal ranged from 125 to 200 pg/ml (Yoshioka et al 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estrous cycle characterisation and artificial insemination using frozen–thawed spermatozoa in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Robeck¹,

Steinman²,

Yoshioka³

et al. 2005

Reproduction

106

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The reproductive endocrinology of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, was characterized to facilitate the development of artificial insemination using cryopreserved spermatozoa. Specific objectives were: (i) to determine the excretory dynamics of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovarian steroid metabolites during the estrous cycle; (ii) to evaluate the effect of an exogenously administered synthetic progesterone analog (altrenogest) on reproductive hormone excretion; (iii) to correlate follicular growth and ovulation (as determined by transabdominal ultrasound) to urinary LH and ovarian steroid metabolites; (iv) examine the in vivo fertilisation capacity of cryopreserved semen, and (v) to develop an intrauterine insemination technique. Based on urinary endocrine monitoring of natural estrous cycles (2 consecutive cycles) and nine post altrenogest cycles in ten females, estrous cycles were found to be 36 days long and comprised of an 8 day and 19 day follicular and luteal phase, respectively. Peak estrogen conjugates (EC; 5.4 6 3.8 ng/mg creatinine (Cr)) occurred 8 h prior to the LH surge (70.9 6 115.7 ng/mg Cr). The time of ovulation, as determined by ultrasonography, occurred 32.1 6 8.9 h and 24.3 6 7.0 h after the onset of the LH surge and LH peak, respectively. Mean preovulatory follicular diameter and circumference were 2.1 6 0.5 cm and 6.5 6 1.5 cm, respectively. Of the 27 estrous synchronisation attempts, 13 resulted in an ovulatory cycle, with ovulation occurring 21 days post-altrenogest treatment. Intrauterine (4 of 5) and intracornual (1 of 3) inseminations conducted across eight estrous cycles resulted in five pregnancies (63%), one pregnancy resulted from the use of liquid stored semen, whereas four were achieved using cryopreserved semen. These data provide new information on female bottlenose dolphin reproductive physiology, and demonstrate that the combination of endocrine monitoring and serial ultrasonography contributed to successful AI using liquid-stored and cryopreserved semen.

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“…Dev. 56: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]2010) ousing dolphins in Japanese aquariums first began in the1950's, and only recently the era of promoting captive breeding has arrived [1]. Traditional research with marine mammals in Japan has come from post-mortem analysis of animals collected during whaling operations.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Utilizing captive colonies of marine species has been possible to determine growth rates, sexual maturation, breeding period, copulatory behavior, gestation period, labor, parenting, and weaning. The breeding season and the estrous cycle of female bottlenose dolphins [2] were described with endocrine studies of captive animals, and it was found that some delphinids were spontaneous ovulators because ovulation occurred without males [3][4][5]. Analyzing serum progesterone concentrations, early pregnancy diagnosis was established and reproductive performance was improved [6,7].…”

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confidence: 99%

Study on Reproduction of Captive Marine Mammals

Katsumata

2010

J. Reprod. Dev.

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Abstract. The reproductive endocrinological characteristics of beluga, killer whale, spotted seal and bottlenose dolphin were evaluated and used in conjunction with applied reproductive research to enhance captive breeding programs. Results from 8 y of biweekly serum progesterone determination in a female beluga indicated that sexual maturity occured at approximately age 13, two to seven estrous cycles, lasting 37 ± 3.9 days, per yr began in April-May every year. Rectal temperature was positively correlated with serum progesterone levels and negatively associated with behavioral estrus. In five cases of pregnancy of two female killer whale, positive relationship was found between serum progesterone concentration and temperature during the first period of 18 month-gestation. In the normal parturitions (n=4), rectal temperature decreased 0.8 C lower than average rectal temperature during pregnancy. Sexual maturity of female killer whales occurred at age nine. Yearly contraception in the mono-estrus captive spotted seals (n=10) using a single dose of the progestagen (proligestone TM ; 5 or 10 mg/kg s.c.) was achieved in 94% (33/35) of the attempts over 5 yr when the hormone was administered two months prior to the breeding season. Artificial insemination trials (n=4) were conducted in female bottlenose dolphin (n=3) using fresh and frozen-thawed semen. Estrus synchronization using regumate (27 days) resulted in ovulation occurring 19 to 24 days post withdrawal. Conception was confirmed in 75% of the attempts, with two females successfully delivering calves. ousing dolphins in Japanese aquariums first began in the1950's, and only recently the era of promoting captive breeding has arrived [1]. Traditional research with marine mammals in Japan has come from post-mortem analysis of animals collected during whaling operations. However, many questions concerning biology and physiology of these animals cannot be learned using these methods. As a result, more emphasis is being placed on using captive animals for non-invasive research programs. Utilizing captive colonies of marine species has been possible to determine growth rates, sexual maturation, breeding period, copulatory behavior, gestation period, labor, parenting, and weaning. The breeding season and the estrous cycle of female bottlenose dolphins [2] were described with endocrine studies of captive animals, and it was found that some delphinids were spontaneous ovulators because ovulation occurred without males [3][4][5]. Analyzing serum progesterone concentrations, early pregnancy diagnosis was established and reproductive performance was improved [6,7]. For the male bottlenose dolphin, the seasonality of spermatogenesis and sperm characteristics were described through analysis of yearly changes in spermatozoa production and testosterone excretion [8][9][10][11]. For pinnipedia, it has been demonstrated that they have a period of delayed implantation, which are regulated by photo period and can be affected by nutritional variations [12,13]. In addition, shortly ...

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Progesterone and Estrogens in the Pregnant and Nonpregnant Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, and the Effects of Induced Ovulation 1

Abstract: Baseline serum

Cited by 68 publications

References 0 publications

Basal Body Temperature Method for Detecting Ovarian Cycle in the Captive Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)

Basal Body Temperature Method for Detecting Ovarian Cycle in the Captive Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)

Estrous cycle characterisation and artificial insemination using frozen–thawed spermatozoa in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Study on Reproduction of Captive Marine Mammals

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