Urinary and plasma gonadotropin concentrations in golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus r. rosalia)

Abstract

This paper describes the development and validation of a plasma and urinary gonadotropin immunoassay for golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia), an endangered New World callitrichid primate. The assay is derived from a macaque chorionic gonadotropin assay and was validated for both plasma and urine samples in L. rosalia. Levels of immunoreactive LHiCG in lion tamarin urine were highly correlated ( r = + 0.98) with gonadotropin bioactivity. Immunoreactive LHiCG levels were examined in two contexts: in the urine of adult females and in the plasma of adult males after administration of estrogen. Peaks of gonadotropin excretion were detected in samples collected from nonpregnant adult females. The peaks occurred immediately prior to cyclic elevations in urinary estrogen excretion. Plasma LHiCG concentration in males measured 24 and 48 hours after a single 50 pg injection of estradiol benzoate were significantly lower than levels at these time points measured after control treatment. Together, the results of this study point to the utility of the gonadotropin assay for monitoring reproductive function in both female and male lion tamarins.

Determination of ovarian cycle in Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii) via the measurement of steroids and peptides in plasma and urine

“…The profile of urinary excretion of oestrone-3-conjugates closely reflects that of oestrone-3-conjugates in the circulation, supporting the conclusions of previous studies based on urinary hormones only, that urinary oestrone-3-conjugates are high during the luteal phase (Ziegler et al, 1989(Ziegler et al, , 1990aCarroll et al, 1990). Furthermore, studies based on the profiles of reproductive peptides and steroids in the urine of the cotton-top tamarin (Ziegler et al, 1987), golden-lion tamarin (French et al, 1992) and pygmy marmoset (Ziegler et al, 1990b), also strongly suggest that oestrogen excretion is high in the luteal phase relative to the follicular phase in clawed New World monkeys. Whereas Carroll et al (1990) …”

Describing Ovarian Cycles, Pregnancy Characteristics, and the Use of Contraception in Female White‐Faced Marmosets, Callithrix geoffroyi

“…These include Saguinus [Brand, 1981; French et al, 1983; Heistermann et al, 1993; Heistermann & Hodges, 1995; Lottker et al, 2004, Ziegler et al, 1987], Cebuella [Ziegler et al, 1990], Leontopithecus [French & Stribley, 1985,1987; French et al,1992], and Callithrix [Eastman et al, 1984; French et al, 1996; Harding et al, 1982; Harlow et al, 1983; Hearn & Chambers, 1980; Heger & Neubert, 1987; Hodges & Eastman, 1984; Gilchrist et al, 2001; Tardif et al, 2003]. However, this information is limited, as these data are available for only a small number of species.…”

Metabolism of reproductive steroids during the ovarian cycle in two species of callitrichids, Saguinus oedipus and Callithrix jacchus, and estimation of the ovulatory period from fecal steroids

“…In all New World species examined-the cotton-top tamarin, Saguinus oedipus [1,2], the common marmoset, Callithrixjacchus [2,3], the Goeldi's monkey, Callimico goeldi [4,5], the saddle-back tamarin, Saguinusfuscicollis [2], the golden lion tamarin, Leontopithecus rosalia [6], the muriqui monkey, Brachyteles arachnoides [7], and the white-faced saki, Pitheciapithecia [81]-urinary or fecal estrogen profiles do not reveal the pattern found in Old World monkeys and apes of a follicular surge prior to ovulation. Instead, estrogens increase similarly to progesterone metabolites with a sustained elevation throughout the presumed luteal phase of ovulatory cycles.…”