Induction of luteal activity and progesterone secretion in the nonpregnant one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)
in ReproductionSummary. Corpora lutea (n = 20) were detected in 5 one-humped female camels studied during a period of 4 months. Complete mating by a vasectomized male, male introduction into the pen of females without mating, or a progesterone decrease from a previous corpus luteum were followed by a similar progesterone pattern. A maximal plasma concentration of 4·5 ± 1·5 ng progesterone/ml (2·7–8·8 ng/ml) occurred 8·55 ± 1 ·32 days (6–11 days) after the inducing stimulus. Luteal regression, beginning 8·65 ± 1·18 days after the stimulus, was completed at Day 11·55 ± 1·05. Morphological development of ovarian structures, detected by rectal palpation, was in synchrony with the progesterone increase, but there was a prolonged period of regression. Females accepted mating up to 7 days after the ovulatory stimulus, when progesterone levels were as high as 3·5 ng/ml. This study establishes the absence of pseudopregnancy in the one-humped female camel, and offers opportunities for improving the management of reproduction. It also shows that ovulatory stimuli other than mating can be effective in these animals.
An official journal of
