Serum progesterone levels using radioimmunoassay during oestrous cycle of indigenous damascus does

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on Damascus does to characterise the oestrous cycle and activity of the corpus luteum and to determine normal progesterone patterns during different phases of the oestrous cycle using radioimmunoassay. Fifteen 2–5-year-old indigenous cycling Damascus does were used during the normal breeding season for two consecutive oestrous cycles. Average length of the oestrous cycles was 21.2 ± 1.5 days (range: 19–26 days), consisting of 2.9 + 0.8 days (2–5 days) where progesterone level was low, averaging 0.69 ± 0.85 nmol l-1 (range: 0.00–3.08 nmol l-1), followed by a sharp increase in progesterone secretion indicating presence of active corpora lutea which lasted an average of 15.3 ± 1.4 days (range: 13–20 days), with an average progesterone level of 13.41 nmol l-1 (range: 3.26–27.98 nmol l-1), followed by a sharp decline in progesterone level, indicating inactive corpora lutea, which lasted an average of 3.1 ± 0.6 days (range: 2–5 days), with an average progesterone level of 0.68 nmol l-1 (range: 0.00–2.81 nmol l-1). Maximum progesterone level during the luteal phase averaged 18.67 ± 3.15nmol l-1 (range: 14.00–27.98 nmol l-1), which, on average, occurred on the 12.2th ± 3.2 day of the oestrous cycle. It was possible, for the first time, to characterise the oestrous cycle of the indigenous Damascus doe, and to determine normal progesterone patterns during different phases of the oestrous cycle. Based on the results reported above, it is also concluded that progesterone levels under 3.18 nmol l-1 were found on average during 2.9 days at the start of the oestrous cycle and during 3.1 days at the end of the oestrous cycle (follicular phase), and that progesterone levels above 3.18 nmol l-1 were found during the luteal phase lasting, on average, for 15.3 days. © 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.