scholarly journals Monitoring of the Reproductive Cycle in Captive-Bred Female Boa constrictor: Preliminary Ultrasound Observations

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3069
Author(s):  
Mara Bertocchi ◽  
Enrico Bigliardi ◽  
Igor Pelizzone ◽  
Alessandro Vetere ◽  
Sabrina Manfredi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Color Doppler ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Noninvasive Technique ◽  
Portable Ultrasound ◽  
Postovulatory Follicle ◽  
Boa Constrictor ◽  
Array Transducer ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Vascular Connections

The Boa constrictor is one of the most common reptiles bred in captivity. To achieve a successful breeding season, thorough knowledge of the females’ reproductive activity is necessary. In this regard, information on the Boa constrictor is still rather scarce. The aim of the present study was to monitor the ovarian activity and the embryonic development of boas by ultrasound. We performed brief scans on thirty non-anaesthetized snakes using a portable ultrasound system and a 7.5–10 MHz linear array transducer (Esaote MyLab™ Classic). Ultrasound features, dimensions, and echogenicity of the preovulatory and postovulatory follicles were determined. As gestation progresses, the postovulatory follicle size increases, and the embryonic silhouette becomes increasingly recognizable. During the second month after ovulation, by using color Doppler, early embryos’ heart activity could be evaluated. It is possible to highlight vascular connections between the mother and the membrane covering the embryonic structures. Ultrasound also allows one to identify follicular regression or slugs (nonfertilized eggs) early. The present study suggests that ultrasound could be an excellent noninvasive technique to evaluate the reproductive activity of Boa constrictor, allowing us to precisely identify the correct time for mating, monitor embryo development and viability, and allow the early diagnosis of follicular regression.

scholarly journals Fecal cortisol metabolites as indicators of stress in crab-eating-fox (Cerdocyoun thous) in captivity

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 859-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina C.R. Paz ◽  
Nely P. Souza ◽  
Janine L. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Fold Increase ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Fecal Cortisol ◽  
Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites ◽  
Physiological Relevance ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Invasive Method ◽  
Cortisol Metabolites

Abstract: Blood samples collection is a common method in biological research using domestic animals. However, most blood sampling techniques are complicated and highly invasive and may therefore not be appropriate for wildlife animals in research concerning stress. Thus, a non-invasive method to measure steroid hormones is critically needed. The first goal of this study was to determine how glucocorticoids concentrations are impacted by translocation and reproductive activity in crab-eating-fox (Cerdocyoun thous) in captivity. The physiological relevance of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites was further validated by demonstrating: (1) The translocation of a male to a females enclosure resulted in a 3.5-fold increase compared to baseline concentrations, (2) changes in adrenocortical activity, as reflected in concentrations of fecal cortisol metabolites during reproduction, gestation and lactation in females foxes, indicating that social interactions resulted in large increases of fecal glucocorticoids metabolites during the reproductive season. From these findings we conclude that fecal samples can be used for the non-invasive assessment of adrenocortical status in crab-eating-fox.

scholarly journals Effect of a GnRH agonist (deslorelin) on ovarian activity in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (No. 5) ◽  
pp. 228-230
Author(s):  
E Cermakova ◽  
M Oliveri ◽  
Z Knotkova ◽  
Z Knotek
Keyword(s):  
Gnrh Agonist ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Healthy Adult ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Eublepharis Macularius ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Healthy Adult Male ◽  
Breeding Seasons

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of deslorelin acetate in the regulation of reproductive activity in captive leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius). Fourteen healthy adult females were separated into two groups. Under general anaesthesia, deslorelin acetate implants (4.7 mg) or placebo implants were administered into the coelom of ten female geckos and four female geckos, respectively. One healthy adult male Leopard gecko was added to each group of females (five females with GnRH implants and two females with placebo implants). The geckos were regularly monitored over two breeding seasons (visual examination, weight control). Nesting sites were checked daily. There were no postoperative complications or any other health problems during the study. Implant administration did not result in long-term suppression of reproductive function. No significant differences were found in the number of clutches between the female groups (deslorelin implants versus placebo implants) or in the number of clutches between the two breeding seasons. Deslorelin acetate implants did not interfere with ovarian activity in captive female leopard geckos. The use of GnRH agonist implants is not an appropriate method for control of reproductive function in female leopard geckos.

Post-partum blood leptin concentrations and energy balance in first calving dairy heifers

2002 ◽  
Vol 2002 ◽  
pp. 91-91
Author(s):  
A.R.G. Wylie ◽  
D.J. Devlin ◽  
T.W.J. Keady ◽  
C.S. Mayne ◽  
R.E. Agnew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Negative Energy ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Blood Concentrations ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Gnrh Release ◽  
Fat Stores

Blood concentrations of leptin, the first of several recently-discovered adipocyte proteins, putatively signal the extent of fat energy reserves to the hypothalamus in mammals and help regulate food intake and reproductive activity (through control of GnRH release). In early post-partum dairy cows, the rapidly increasing milk energy output and slowly increasing feed energy intake produce a negative energy balance (-ve EB) that is met by mobilisation of adipose fat stores and the severity and/or duration of the –ve EB may delay resumption of normal ovarian activity. The objective of the current study was to compare post-partum EB and serum leptin concentration profiles in Holstein-Friesian and Norwegian Red heifers, both of high genetic merit within their breed.

Effects of supplementary food on the winter inhibition of reproduction in male and female four-striped field mice (Rhabdomys pumilio)

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 393 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Jackson ◽  
R. T. F. Bernard
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Food Supplementation ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Additional Food ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Supplementary Food ◽  
Rhabdomys Pumilio ◽  
Seasonally Breeding

The effects of winter food supplementation on reproduction in the seasonally breeding four-striped field mouse Rhabdomys pumilio were investigated at Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. On both control and supplemented grids, reproductive activity in females was inhibited; no pregnant females were collected and juveniles were only present in the first winter month. The provision of additional food resulted in an increase in body mass and mass of the male and female reproductive organs. However, all males, from both grids, were spermatogenically active. Ovarian activity was not stimulated by the provision of additional food, but the development of the uterus was and the endometrium was thicker and more vascularised in mice from the supplemented grid than from the control grid. We conclude that seasonal reproduction in R. pumilio is controlled by the females, in which reproductive activity is inhibited in winter. However, the provision of supplementary food was not sufficient to override the reproductive inhibition.

scholarly journals B-Mode and pulsed Doppler sonography of kidney in healthy sheep according to age

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 545-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca P. Santarosa ◽  
Danilo O.L. Ferreira ◽  
Alexandra F. Belotta ◽  
Adriano Dias ◽  
Maria J. Mamprim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Color Doppler ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Biochemical Tests ◽  
Portable Ultrasound ◽  
Normal Limits ◽  
Kidney Length ◽  
Healthy Sheep ◽  
Conventional Ultrasound ◽  
Pulsed Doppler Sonography ◽  
The Right

Abstract: There is no standardization in the literature of kidney length in sheep at different ages, as there are few studies about the access with the Doppler triplex ultrasound for the renal vascularization in this species. Eighty healthy sheep of three age groups of Ile de France and White Dorper breed were used: 20 lambs, 30 yearlings and 30 adults (8 rams and 22 ewes). Renal healthiness of the animals was confirmed by serum biochemical tests of urea and creatinine, and by observation of renal architecture with conventional ultrasound, besides measurement of vital parameters. A portable ultrasound (My LabTM30 Vet Gold Esaote®, Esaote Healthcare) device was used, with a convex transducer with 3.5MHz frequency. After identification of the kidneys in two-dimensional mode, the measurement of length in the sagittal section was performed in all sheep (n=80). Then color Doppler was activated for visualization of renal and interlobar arteries of the right kidney, and the resistivity index (RI) of the yearlings (n=30) and ewes (n=22) was measured. Biochemical tests remained within normal limits and renal architecture was preserved. The values of the right and left renal length were different between the groups, increasing with age (4.34cm and 4.31cm in lambs; 6.08cm and 6.23cm in yearlings; 7.57cm and 7.37cm in adults, respectively). Median values of RI of the renal artery were statistically different (p<0.05) between the groups of yearlings (0.57) and ewes (0.52). The median RI of the interlobar artery was similar in yearlings (0.58) and ewes (0.54).

Ovarian activity in Arabian leopards (Panthera pardus nimr): sexual behaviour and faecal steroid monitoring during the follicular cycle, mating and pregnancy

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florine J. de Haas van Dorsser ◽  
Daphne I. Green ◽  
William V. Holt ◽  
Amanda R. Pickard
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behaviour ◽  
Arabian Peninsula ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Fundamental Understanding ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Steroid Profiles ◽  
Basic Features ◽  
Steroid Excretion

The Arabian leopard is a critically endangered subspecies endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. A fundamental understanding of the ovarian activity of the leopard is important to enhance the success with which it breeds in captivity. The objective of the present study was to characterise the endocrinology of the follicular cycle, ovulation and pregnancy in captive females using faecal steroid hormone analyses and observations of sexual behaviour. The follicular cycle of the leopard was shown to last 18–23 days based on the interval between consecutive peaks of faecal oestrogen conjugates, and the occurrence of silent heats was high. Puberty had commenced at 2 years of age, but faecal steroid profiles did not match those of the adult female until 3 years of age. No seasonal change in ovarian steroid excretion was observed, although behavioural oestrus was suppressed in summer. Significant rises in faecal progestagen concentrations were only recorded in mated leopards, indicating that these females were strictly induced ovulators. However, only 60% of these mating periods were ovulatory. Progestagen concentrations during pregnancy were significantly higher than those of the non-pregnant luteal phase. The average duration of the non-pregnant and pregnant luteal phases was 39 and 97 days, respectively. The basic features of the reproductive cycle of the Arabian leopard described here form an important foundation for further study into its reproduction.

Reproductive behaviour in captive freshwater shrimp Macrobrachium australiense Holthuis

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
NV Ruello ◽  
PF Moffitt ◽  
SG Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
First Record ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Nest Building ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
Freshwater Shrimp ◽  
Australian Species ◽  
Building Activity ◽  
In Captivity

The nest building and beckoning behaviour, the female premating moult, the mating process, and parental care demonstrated by a pair of captive Macrobrachium australiense are described and compared with the reproductive activity previously recorded for several other palaemonid shrimps. This is believed to be the first record of nest building activity in the Natantia. Although M. australiense will breed in captivity without any apparent difficulty, the relatively low fecundity and small size of adults of this and most other Australian species of Macrobrachium seem to limit their economic potential for aquaculture.

Effects of supplements of phosphorus or phosphorus and protein on the ovarian activity of cows fed native pasture hay

1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (85) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Teleni ◽  
BD Siebert ◽  
RM Murray ◽  
CD Nancarrow
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Inorganic Phosphorus ◽  
Protein Supplementation ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Elevated Plasma ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Plasma Progesterone ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
To Receive

Eight cows with calves in pens were fed native tropical pasture hay harvested at intervals throughout the wet season. Four of the cows were supplemented with phosphorus. When pastures matured and declined in quality, calves were weaned and their dams were firstly group-fed hay in yards and later allowed to graze native pasture. One group continued to receive phosphorus supplement and both groups were supplied with protein supplement to offset possible deficiency. During the pen feeding period, none of the cows exhibited oestrus and plasma progesterone declined as the quality of the hay fell; the cows were refractory to treatment with luteolytic prostaglandin. Some four months after the commencement of protein supplementation, two cows from the group receiving phosphorus supplement exhibited oestrus. Three cows from each group had elevated plasma progesterone levels, and these animals all exhibited oestrus following treatment with prostaglandin. Phosphorus supplementation had no significant effect on feed intake, liveweight change or milk production. Blood inorganic phosphorus was significantly increased by treatment but bone phosphorus was not. It was concluded that phosphorus supplementation alone had no significant effect on reproductive activity. If cows received adequate protein, however, oestrus activity was markedly increased whether phosphorus was supplemented or not.

Light microscopical structure and ultrastructure of aBesnoitiasp. in the naturally infected lizardAmeiva ameiva(Teiidae) from north Brazil, and in experimentally infected mice

Parasitology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. PAPERNA ◽  
R. LAINSON
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Definitive Host ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Laboratory Mice ◽  
Boa Constrictor ◽  
North Brazil ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Juvenile Specimen ◽  
Structure And Ultrastructure ◽  
Intraperitoneal Inoculation

ABesnoitiaspecies of the teiid lizardAmeiva ameiva(L.), from north Brazil was established in laboratory mice and hamster by the intraperitoneal inoculation of bradyzoites in the tissue cysts. In the lizards all the cyst wall layers were closely apposed. In the mice the layers of the wall were distinguishable, and ultrastructurally the inner cytoplasmic layer contained either a tight network of endoplasmic reticulum or packed mitochondria or both. These components were less frequent or sparse in the inner cytoplasmic layer of cysts in the lizard. The only animals available for experiments in attempts to indicate the definitive host of the parasite were 3 kittens of the domestic cat and a juvenile specimen of the snakeBoa constrictorraised in captivity. No evidence of infection could be detected in these animals after feeding them with the tissues of mice harbouring cysts with very large number of bradyzoites.

scholarly journals Follicular, endocrine and behavioural dynamics of the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) oestrous cycle

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 843-856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica A Stoops ◽  
Randal D Pairan ◽  
Terri L Roth
Keyword(s):  
Follicular Development ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Oestrous Cycle ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Ovarian Activity ◽  
Large Follicle ◽  
Rhinoceros Unicornis ◽  
Metabolite Profiles ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Progesterone Metabolite

Longitudinal ultrasound, behaviour and endocrine evaluations were conducted, over 14 to 18 months, in two young female Indian rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) to characterize the oestrous cycle. Both females showed the same pattern of follicular development producing a large follicle (10–12 cm diameter) on one of the ovaries that persisted for 8.5 ± 4.68 days before spontaneously ovulating. Ovulation occurred in all eight cycles monitored in a 6- to 7-year-old female versus 10 out of 14 cycles monitored in a 5- to 6-year-old female. Ultrasound examinations confirmed follicular collapse 48 h following the onset of behavioural oestrus in ovulatory cycles, while anovulatory cycles were associated with the formation of a haemorrhagic follicle. The day of behavioural oestrus corresponded to peak urinary oestrogen conjugate concentrations for each cycle, but anovulatory cycles had lower concentrations on the day of behavioural oestrus compared with ovulatory cycles. A transient increase in urinary progesterone metabolite concentrations was detected 1 day prior to ovulation. Irregular urinary progesterone metabolite profiles followed anovulatory cycles, reflecting varying degrees of follicular luteinization. In an attempt to ensure that a cycle would result in ovulation in the 5- to 6-year-old female, a GnRH treatment was tested during two separate cycles. Administration of GnRH on the day of behavioural oestrus resulted in an increase in urinary luteinizing hormone concentrations 2 h following injection. Regardless, ovulation did not occur in response to treatment. This study provides the first ultrasound data on ovarian activity in the Indian rhinoceros and establishes normal physiologic and behavioural relationships during the oestrous cycle that may facilitate the breeding of this species in captivity.

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