Taberner E, Medrano A, Peña A, Rigau T, Miró J
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Campus UAB, Edifici V, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
Theriogenology. 2008 Dec;70(9):1489-97. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.06.096. Epub 2008 Aug 3.
The Catalonian donkey breed is in danger of extinction, and much needs to be learned about the reproductive features of its females if breeding and conservation programmes are to be successful. This study reports the oestrous behaviour, oestrus cycle characteristics and dynamic ovarian events witnessed during 50 oestrous cycles (involving 106 ovulations) in 10 Catalonian jennies between March 2002 and January 2005. These jennies were teased, palpated transrectally and examined by ultrasound using a 5 MHz linear transducer-daily during oestrus and every other day during dioestrus. Predictors of ovulation were sought among the variables recorded. The most evident signs of oestrus were mouth clapping (the frequent vertical opening and closing of the mouth with ears depressed against the extended neck) and occasional urinating and winking of the vulval lips (homotypical behaviour). Interactions between jennies in oestrus were also recorded, including mounting, herding/chasing, the Flehmen response, and vocalization (heterotypical behaviour). Nine jennies ovulated regularly throughout the year; one had two anovulatory periods (54 and 35 days). The length of the oestrus cycle was 24.90 +/- 0.26 days, with oestrus itself lasting 5.64 +/- 0.20 days (mean +/- S.E.M.) and dioestrus 19.83 +/- 0.36 days. The incidence of single, double and triple ovulations was 55.66% (n=59), 42.45% (n=45) and 1.89% (n=2), respectively. No significant difference was seen in the number of ovulations involving the left and right ovaries (52.63% [n=70] compared to 47.37% [n=63] respectively; P>0.05). The mean interval between double ovulation was 1.44 +/- 3.98 days. The mean diameter of the preovulatory follicle at day -1 was 44.9 +/- 0.5 mm; the mean growth rate over the 5 days before ovulation was 3.7 mm/day. Data on preovulatory changes in oestrous behaviour, follicle size, follicle texture, the echographic appearance of the follicle and uterus, and uterine tone were subjected to stepwise logistic regression analysis to detect predictors of ovulation. The logit function showed the best predictors to be follicle size, follicular texture and oestrous behaviour. Certain combinations of these three variables allow the prediction of ovulation within 24 h with a probability of >75%.
加泰罗尼亚驴品种面临灭绝危险，若繁殖和保护计划要取得成功，就需要深入了解其雌性的生殖特征。本研究报告了2002年3月至2005年1月期间，10头加泰罗尼亚母驴的50个发情周期（涉及106次排卵）中观察到的发情行为、发情周期特征及动态卵巢事件。这些母驴在发情期每天、间情期每隔一天接受逗引、经直肠触诊，并使用5兆赫线性换能器进行超声检查。在记录的变量中寻找排卵的预测因素。发情最明显的迹象是拍嘴（嘴巴频繁垂直开合，耳朵贴在伸长的脖子上低垂）以及偶尔排尿和阴唇眨动（同种行为）。还记录了发情母驴之间的互动，包括爬跨、聚群/追逐、裂唇嗅反应和发声（异种行为）。9头母驴全年规律排卵；1头有两个无排卵周期（分别为54天和35天）。发情周期长度为24.90±0.26天，发情期本身持续5.64±0.20天（平均值±标准误），间情期为19.83±0.36天。单排卵、双排卵和三排卵的发生率分别为55.66%（n = 59）、42.45%（n = 45）和1.89%（n = 2）。涉及左右卵巢的排卵数量未见显著差异（分别为52.63% [n = 70] 和47.37% [n = 63]；P>0.05）。双排卵之间的平均间隔为1.44±3.98天。排卵前-1天卵泡的平均直径为44.9±0.5毫米；排卵前5天的平均生长速度为3.7毫米/天。对发情行为、卵泡大小、卵泡质地、卵泡和子宫的超声图像以及子宫张力的排卵前变化数据进行逐步逻辑回归分析，以检测排卵的预测因素。逻辑函数显示最佳预测因素为卵泡大小、卵泡质地和发情行为。这三个变量的某些组合可在24小时内预测排卵，概率>75%。
