Seasonal onset of pubertal ovulation and incidence of luteal cyclicity was
assessed from plasma progesterone proles over 15 months for tame red deer
(n = 7) and sambar deer (n
= 7) hinds. Seasonal responses to photoperiod were determined from
plasma prolactin proles. All red deer attained puberty at 17-18 months of age
in May-June and expressed 3-6 luteal cycles of length 20·0 ±
10·4 days (mean ± s.e.m.) over 52-102 days. Six sambar deer
attained puberty at 7-19 months of age, between August and December. Duration
of luteal cyclicity was variable. While one animal remained continuously
cyclic for 13 months, most entered anoestrus between November and February.
The mean length of the luteal cycle was 17·2 ± 0·3 days.
While red deer exhibited strongly seasonal patterns of prolactin secretion,
sambar deer showed no such seasonal trends. The data collectively indicate
that young sambar hinds at temperate latitudes exhibit loosely dened patterns
of reproductive seasonality that are 4-6 months out of phase with those of red
deer, although some individuals may be non-seasonal. Failure to express
seasonal patterns of prolactin secretion indicates that sambar deer may not
perceive photoperiodic cues to the same extent as do red deer.
The Antiinfective Effects of Velvet Antler of Formosan Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoei) onStaphylococcus aureus-Infected Mice