| Abstract |
Blood was collected every 3 days for 13 months from 4 captured [female][female] of proven fertility kept adjacent to a teaser stallion. Basal plasma LH level was greater during Apr.-July (8.1+or-0.5 ng/ml) than during Nov.-Jan. (2.2+or-0.2). A total for 21 LH peaks occurred between 13 Apr. and 31 Aug. among the 4 [female][female]; many peaks exceeded 20 times the basal level, and there was a trend to a higher LH level with each succeeding peak. On all occasions except one, LH peaks were associated with progesterone levels of 0.5 ng/ml and with increases of oestrogen (peak average 43.1+or-12.1 pg/ml). Basal progesterone level during Apr.-July (1.5+or-1.2 ng/ml) did not differ significantly from that during Oct.-Jan. (1.1+or-0.7), nor did basal oestrogen level differ significantly between those 2 periods (8.4+or-3.2 and 12.9+or-4.6 pg/ml resp.). Behavioural oestrus always occurred with LH and oestrogen peaks during Apr.-July. However, behavioural oestrus was occasionally observed during Aug.-Oct., when LH peaks no longer occurred. |
