Division of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Theriogenology. 2013 Nov;80(8):839-49. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2013.06.015. Epub 2013 Aug 27.
Information about reproductive physiology in the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) would generate knowledge that could be useful in the management of the Swedish lynx population based on the knowledge about their reproductive potential and population development. Age-related differences in ovulation and implantation rates would affect the reproductive output and the development of the population. The aims of this study were to evaluate a protocol for collection of reproductive data from carcasses by comparisons with published field data and to generate data about reproduction in the Swedish lynx. Reproductive organs from 120 females that were harvested between March 1 and April 9 from 2009 to 2011 were collected and evaluated macroscopically for placental scars. Females had their first estrus as yearlings but did not have their first litter until the next season. Pregnancy rates were lower in 2-year-old females than in females aged 3 to 7 years but did not differ significantly from females aged 8 to 13 years (54.5%, 95.6%, and 75.0%, respectively). CL from the present season were morphologically distinctly different from luteal bodies from previous cycles (LBPC). All females ≥3 years had macroscopically visible LBPC, whereas only 67% of 22 to 23 months old females had one to three LBPC and no females <1 year of age had LBPC. Females aged 34 to 35 months had up to eight LPBC, whereas the highest number of LBPC counted in females ≥3 years of age was 11. These data would be in agreement with only one estrus per season and LBPC from at least three previous reproductive seasons in older females. The number of LBPC was significantly correlated with the weight of the ovaries rs = 0.648, P < 0.001) and the age of the animals (rs = 0.572, P < 0.001). Uterine weight differed significantly with the stage of the reproductive cycle and was highest for mature females in the luteal phase of the cycle. The estrous period, defined as occurrence of ovarian follicles lasted from March 5 to April 1 in this material. In conclusion, this study confirms that useful information about lynx reproduction can be collected from reproductive organs retrieved after the death of the animals. Continuous monitoring of lynx reproductive organs would therefore make a valuable contribution to collection of field data, gathering information that can be useful for the management of lynx populations and potentially for the lynx as an indicator of environmental disturbances.
欧亚猞猁（Lynx lynx）的生殖生理学信息可以为基于其生殖潜力和种群发展知识的瑞典猞猁种群管理提供有用的信息。排卵和着床率与年龄相关的差异会影响生殖产出和种群发展。本研究的目的是通过与已发表的实地数据进行比较，评估从尸体中收集生殖数据的方案，并生成关于瑞典猞猁生殖的数据。2009 年至 2011 年 3 月 1 日至 4 月 9 日期间收集了 120 只雌性的生殖器官，并对胎盘疤痕进行了宏观评估。雌性在一岁时开始第一次发情，但要到下一个季节才会第一次产仔。2 岁雌性的妊娠率低于 3 至 7 岁雌性，但与 8 至 13 岁雌性无显著差异（分别为 54.5%、95.6%和 75.0%）。本季的 CL 与前一周期的黄体（LBPC）在形态上明显不同。所有≥3 岁的雌性都有肉眼可见的 LBPC，而 22 至 23 个月大的雌性中只有 67%有 1 至 3 个 LBPC，不到 1 岁的雌性没有 LBPC。34 至 35 月龄的雌性有多达 8 个 LPBC，而≥3 岁的雌性中计数的 LBPC 最多为 11 个。这些数据与每个季节只有一次发情以及年龄较大的雌性至少有三个前生殖季节的 LBPC 相符。LBPC 的数量与卵巢重量显著相关（rs = 0.648，P < 0.001）和动物年龄（rs = 0.572，P < 0.001）。子宫重量与生殖周期的阶段显著相关，周期黄体期的成熟雌性的子宫重量最高。发情期（定义为卵巢滤泡的出现）在本材料中从 3 月 5 日持续到 4 月 1 日。总之，本研究证实，从动物死亡后取出的生殖器官中可以收集到有关猞猁生殖的有用信息。对猞猁生殖器官的连续监测将为实地数据的收集做出有价值的贡献，收集对猞猁种群管理有用的信息，并可能将猞猁作为环境干扰的指标。
