Identification of progesterone and 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5α-DHP) in zebras by two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography and their dependence on the state of reproduction
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
1999 |
Authors: |
Franz Klima, Marlies Rohleder, Martin Dehnhard, Heinrich H. D. Meyer |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
Inc., John Wiley & Sons |
Keywords: |
5α-dihydroprogesterone, gestagens, pregnancy, progesterone, zebra |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1999)18:4<325::AID-ZOO7>3.3.CO;2-S Because of its low levels in late pregnancy, the relationship of progesterone to pregnancy maintenance in Equidae is not obvious. This study investigated the levels of progesterone (4-pregnane-3,20-dione; P4) and 5α-dihydroprogesterone (5α-DHP) during pregnancy in zebras in relation to reproductive state. Blood samples from female zebras (Equus burchelli, E. zebrahartmannae, E. grevyi) were taken at Dvur Kralove Zoo. Progesterone and 5α-DHP were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography techniques and detected by cross-reacting antibodies. Identification of progestins was achieved by comparing the identity of peaks of the samples with a standard. In E. z. hartmannae progesterone, values reached 50 ng/mL at the beginning of pregnancy and dropped to levels below 1 ng/mL during the second half of pregnancy. In contrast, 5α-DHP increased up to 123 and 183 ng/mL during late pregnancy in E. z. hartmannae and E. burchelli, respectively. In E. grevyi, 5α-DHP levels of 368 ng/mL were obtained during pregnancy, whereas progesterone values were similar in pregnant and non-pregnant individuals. These marked differences in the course of progesterone and 5α-DHP levels point to the importance of 5α-DHP for pregnancy maintenance in zebras. Zoo Biol 18:325–333, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.