van Aarde R J, van Wyk V
Department of Zoology, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
J Reprod Fertil. 1991 May;92(1):13-9. doi: 10.1530/jrf.0.0920013.
Sexually mature female Cape porcupines kept under natural conditions of illumination and temperature did not conceive while housed within their natal groups. Before removal from their natal groups the sexually mature offspring copulated and experienced cyclic ovarian activity, but conception occurred only 70-120 days after dispersal. Mean oestrous cycle length of these females (36.9 +/- 11.5 days; n = 34) was similar to that of breeding females (33.0 +/- 11.64 days; n = 16), but mean peak plasma progesterone concentration (6.45 +/- 6.03 ng/ml; n = 34) was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than that of cyclic breeding females (13.58 +/- 6.98 ng/ml; n = 16). Mean progesterone concentration at oestrus in non-breeding females (0.72 +/- 0.45 ng/ml; n = 34) was also significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than that of non-pregnant breeding females (4.21 +/- 2.44 ng/ml; n = 16). Reproductive inhibition within natal groups, in which only one female reproduces, therefore cannot be ascribed to a failure to copulate, but may be due to some factor inhibiting full expression of luteal activity or affecting ovulation.
在自然光照和温度条件下饲养的性成熟雌性南非豪猪，在其出生群体中饲养时不会受孕。在从出生群体中移出之前，性成熟的后代会交配并经历周期性的卵巢活动，但受孕仅在分散70 - 120天后发生。这些雌性的平均发情周期长度（36.9 +/- 11.5天；n = 34）与繁殖雌性的相似（33.0 +/- 11.64天；n = 16），但平均血浆孕酮峰值浓度（6.45 +/- 6.03 ng/ml；n = 34）显著（P < 0.01）低于周期性繁殖雌性的（13.58 +/- 6.98 ng/ml；n = 16）。非繁殖雌性在发情期的平均孕酮浓度（0.72 +/- 0.45 ng/ml；n = 34）也显著（P < 0.01）低于未怀孕繁殖雌性的（4.21 +/- 2.44 ng/ml；n = 16）。因此，在出生群体中只有一只雌性繁殖的情况下，生殖抑制不能归因于未能交配，而可能是由于某种因素抑制了黄体活性的充分表达或影响了排卵。
