Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2013 Feb;137(1-2):69-73. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2012.12.008. Epub 2012 Dec 26.
Information about breeding and the reproductive biology of mouse deer is limited in the wild and captivity. No reports on reproductive endocrinology are available. The objective of the present study was to observe the reproductive biology based on breeding records, to validate the utility of the non-invasive endocrine monitoring technique using feces of the female lesser mouse deer (Tragulus javanicus), and thus to clarify the reproductive physiology. Breeding records from 2 females were investigated and the fecal progestagen profile was monitored in captivity. Fecal progestagens were extracted using methanol and measured by enzyme immunoassay. From the breeding records, many births occurred in May (spring) and November-December (winter); however, fecal progestagen profile showed cyclical changes throughout the year in a female mouse deer. Most mounting and mating behaviors were observed 2-3 days after the peak of progestagen concentration during luteal phase. The ovarian cycle length based on the fecal progestagen profile averaged 14.5±0.3 days. The fecal progestagen concentration remained high during pregnancy. Fecal progestagen monitoring is useful for evaluating ovarian activity and pregnancy in the lesser mouse deer.
有关鼠鹿的繁殖和生殖生物学的信息在野外和圈养中都很有限。目前还没有关于生殖内分泌学的报告。本研究的目的是根据繁殖记录观察生殖生物学，验证利用雌性小鼷鹿（Tragulus javanicus）粪便进行非侵入性内分泌监测技术的有效性，从而阐明生殖生理学。对 2 只雌性的繁殖记录进行了调查，并在圈养条件下监测了粪便孕激素谱。使用甲醇提取粪便中的孕激素，并通过酶联免疫吸附法进行测量。从繁殖记录中可以看出，许多幼崽出生于 5 月（春季）和 11 月至 12 月（冬季）；然而，雌性小鼷鹿的粪便孕激素谱全年都呈周期性变化。大多数交配行为发生在黄体期孕激素浓度峰值后的 2-3 天。基于粪便孕激素谱的卵巢周期长度平均为 14.5±0.3 天。在怀孕期间，粪便孕激素浓度保持较高水平。粪便孕激素监测对评估小鼷鹿的卵巢活动和妊娠非常有用。
