Campos L B, Peixoto Gcx, Lima G L, Castelo T S, Silva A M, Freitas Cia, Silva A R
Laboratory of Animal Germplasm Conservation (LCGA), Universidade Federal Rural Do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró, Brazil.
Reprod Domest Anim. 2016 Oct;51(5):736-42. doi: 10.1111/rda.12738. Epub 2016 Jul 21.
The aim of this study was to monitor the oestrous cycle using vaginal cytology, ultrasound and measurement of hormone levels associated with the modification of external genitalia in female Euphractus sexcinctus. Five adult female six-banded armadillos were used for the study. Every three days, we chemically restrained the animals with a combined dose of ketamine and xylazine for 90 days. On each occasion, we conducted vaginal cytology and monitored the alterations in the vulval appearance. In addition, we obtained blood samples for serum estradiol and progesterone analysis and evaluated the ovaries by ultrasonography (8 MHz). As results, at least two entire cycles were monitored per female as based on external oestrous signs. We determined that six-banded armadillos' oestrous cycle lasts 23.5 ± 3.12 days, comprising 8.8 ± 1.4 days for oestrogen phase, in which we verified vaginal bloody discharge, vulvar oedema, presence of mucus and ease of introduction of the swab. During oestrus, females presented an oestrogen peak of 240.66 ± 12.69 pg ml(-1) , on average, with a positive visualization of ovary follicles by ultrasound. The progesterone phase lasts 15.62 ± 2.1 days, characterized by the absence of bloody secretion and difficulty in introducing the swab; there was verification of a progesterone plateau of 10.83 ± 1.86 ng ml(-1) , on average, with identification of corpora lutea in 60% of the ovaries. This is apparently the first description of the six-banded armadillos' oestrous cycle, which proves the efficiency of a multiparametric analysis to monitor it.
本研究的目的是利用阴道细胞学、超声检查以及测量与雌性六带犰狳外生殖器变化相关的激素水平来监测发情周期。本研究使用了五只成年雌性六带犰狳。每隔三天，我们用氯胺酮和赛拉嗪的联合剂量对动物进行化学保定，持续90天。每次我们都进行阴道细胞学检查，并监测外阴外观的变化。此外，我们采集血样进行血清雌二醇和孕酮分析，并通过超声检查（8兆赫）评估卵巢。结果显示，根据外部发情迹象，每只雌性至少监测到两个完整周期。我们确定六带犰狳的发情周期持续23.5±3.12天，其中雌激素期为8.8±1.4天，在此期间我们观察到阴道血性分泌物、外阴水肿、有黏液以及易于插入拭子。在发情期，雌性平均雌激素峰值为240.66±12.69皮克/毫升，超声检查可清晰看到卵巢卵泡。孕酮期持续15.62±2.1天，其特征为无血性分泌物且难以插入拭子；平均孕酮平台期为10.83±1.86纳克/毫升，60%的卵巢中可识别出黄体。这显然是首次对六带犰狳发情周期的描述，证明了多参数分析监测发情周期有效性。
