Estimation of faecal estrogen and progesterone profile at estrous and post estrous period irrespective of mating in lioness

Abstract

Repeated collection of blood samples for hormonal evaluations is necessary for successful investigation of reproductive-endocrine relationships. However, repeated blood sampling is not possible in captive animals like lion; therefore non-invasive faecal steroid metabolite evaluations have mainly been used to study female reproduction and provide information regarding the oestrous behaviour, mating behaviour, pregnancy, abortion and seasonality. Six adult lioness of different ages were selected from Nandankanan Biological Park, Bhubaneswar for the study. Faecal samples were collected within 12 hrs after defecation in the morning. The sex steroid hormones were extracted from wet faeces and analysed by ELISA. The overall value of estrogen and progesterone (ng/g) were 1.22 ± 0.24 and 58.22 ±1.02 respectively during breeding season. The overall mean values of estrogen (ng/g) were 1.24± 0.02 and 1.03 ± 0.002 in estrus and post-estrus respectively. Similarly, the faecal progesterone concentrations (ng/g) were recorded to be 32.08 ± 0.92 and 62.92± 0.28 for corresponding estrus period. Faecal estrogen values during estrus were found to be significantly higher than the post estrous period. Similarly post estrus values of progesterone were significantly higher as compared to follicular phase of estrous cycle. Non-invasive hormonal assay from faecal material could be made from captive wild animals where other conventional method might incur risk to life.