Urinary excretion of oestrone conjugates and gonadotrophins during pregnancy in the Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii)

Abstract

Oestrone conjugate and LH/CG were measured in the urine of 4 Goeldi's monkeys during 6 pregnancies. The gestational length was a mean of 148.8 days from the post-partum LH/CG peak to parturition. CG was first detected a mean of 18.8 days after the LH/CG peak and values remained elevated for a mean of 44.8 days. Three different gonadotrophin assays were used to detect LH/CG: the mouse in-vitro interstitial cell bioassay, a mixed heterologous LH RIA, and a monkey CG RIA. The mouse in-vitro interstitial cell bioassay was useful for measuring both the LH peak which occurred post partum and the CG concentrations during pregnancy. However, both immunoassays were inconsistent in measuring LH due to poor cross-reactivity or lack of specificity; CG concentrations were measurable. Oestrone conjugates became elevated at the time of the LH/CG peak and concentrations continued to increase throughout pregnancy, reaching peak levels before parturition. The postpartum interval, pregnancy and parturition can therefore be monitored in the Goeldi's monkey by the use of urinary assays: those for bioactive LH and immunoreactive oestrone conjugates to determine the post-partum LH peak and those for immunoreactive LH/CG and immunoreactive oestrone conjugates to follow pregnancy and parturition.

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

“…(Bonney et al, 1979), and the common marmoset Eastman et al, 1984). 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.…”

“…Studies of this species in captivity have been concerned with reproductive behaviour (Beck et al, 1982;Carroll, 1982Carroll, , 1985 and various aspects of reproductive endocrinology. The data available on female reproductive endocrinology of Goeldi's monkey constitute descriptions of the ovarian cycle and of pregnancy based on the metabolites of reproductive steroid and peptide hormones in urine or faeces (Carroll et al, 1989(Carroll et al, , 1990Christen et al, 1989;Ziegler et al, 1989Ziegler et al, , 1990a Pryce and Döbeli, 1992; Jurke et al, in press).…”

Non-invasive monitoring of endocrine status in laboratory primates: methods, guidelines and applications

“…when information on follicular development, timing of the ovulatory LH peak and/or excretion of chorionic gonadotropin during early pregnancy is required (e.g. French et al, 1996;Ziegler et al, 1987Ziegler et al, , 1990.…”

Different ovarian responses to potential mates underlie species-specific breeding strategies in common marmoset and Goeldi's monkey

“…In the Goeldi's monkey, the urine was clean-caught in a plastic container as soon as each monkey began to urinate. This simple method of collecting first-void urine in a plastic container is similar to that used for Goeldi's monkey in several studies (Carroll et al, 1990;Pryce et al, 1993;Schradin, 2001;Ziegler et al, 1990). Urine samples were stored at -20°C until analysed.…”

“…In order to monitor ovarian activity and from this to infer reproductive status, we measured urinary oestrone-3-conjugates (E1C). This group of oestrone conjugates provides a reliable indicator of ovarian cyclicity, conception and pregnancy maintenance in the common marmoset (Eastman et al, 1984;Harlow et al, 1984;Hodges et al, 1983) as well as in the Goeldi's monkey (Carroll et al, 1989(Carroll et al, , 1990Pryce et al, 1993;Ziegler et al, 1990). Cortisol was measured to monitor activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis and in an attempt to quantify stress related to social instability, particularly during the formation of trios.…”