Peter Birgit, De Rijk Eveline P C T, Zeltner Adrian, Emmen Henricus H
WIL Research Europe B.V., Department of Toxicology, Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
WIL Research Europe B.V., Department of Pathology, Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.
Toxicol Pathol. 2016 Apr;44(3):482-5. doi: 10.1177/0192623315621413. Epub 2016 Feb 16.
In the literature, experimental data on sexual maturation of female Göttingen minipigs are lacking. This may impede a reliable evaluation of reproductive functioning, particularly in the young (immature) sow used in toxicity studies. To find suitable method(s) to detect ovulation during in-life, a pilot study was performed with 3 adult sows (approximately 10-11 months), followed by a study with 14 immature females (approximately 3-4 months). From the tested parameters, progesterone analysis was the most reliable predictor. First progesterone peaks were observed in 13 sows at 3.7-4.2 or 5.5-6.5 months with a cycle length of 17-22 days. One sow did not show progesterone release until necropsy at 7 months of age. Histopathology of the reproductive organs confirmed sexual maturity for all sows, except the one without progesterone peak. In conclusion, the age range of sexual maturity of female Göttingen minipigs (3.7-6.5 months) is much wider than previously thought, and in-life progesterone analysis is a useful tool to determine sexual maturity of individual animals.
在文献中，缺乏关于雌性哥廷根小型猪性成熟的实验数据。这可能会妨碍对生殖功能进行可靠评估，尤其是在毒性研究中使用的年轻（未成熟）母猪。为了找到在活体状态下检测排卵的合适方法，对3头成年母猪（约10 - 11个月）进行了一项试点研究，随后对14头未成熟雌性猪（约3 - 4个月）进行了研究。在所测试的参数中，孕酮分析是最可靠的预测指标。在13头母猪中，在3.7 - 4.2个月或5.5 - 6.5个月时观察到首次孕酮峰值，周期长度为17 - 22天。有一头母猪直到7月龄尸检时才出现孕酮释放。除了那头没有孕酮峰值的母猪外，生殖器官的组织病理学检查证实所有母猪都达到了性成熟。总之，雌性哥廷根小型猪的性成熟年龄范围（3.7 - 6.5个月）比之前认为的要宽得多，并且活体孕酮分析是确定个体动物性成熟的有用工具。
