Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa; Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
Anim Reprod Sci. 2020 Feb;213:106260. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106260. Epub 2019 Dec 17.
Vaginal cytology evaluation is an economic, non-invasive technique for indirect monitoring of fluctuations in estrogen concentrations, and thus progression of the estrous cycle. This technique is widely used in domestic dogs for determining timing of artificial insemination. There, however, are only a few reports on the vaginal cytology of non-domestic felids, including lions. This study was conducted, therefore, to describe the vaginal epithelial changes throughout the reproductive cycle of African lions, and to investigate the efficacy of vaginal cytology assessments for predicting reproductive stages. During a 12-month period, reproductive behavioral data and vaginal swabs were collected daily from five lionesses. In total, 541 vaginal smears were evaluated for the proportion of mucosal epithelial cells, neutrophils, bacterial cells, and amount of mucous, cellular debris. One single swab with a large proportion of superficial cells, absence of neutrophils, large number of bacteria, without cellular debris was sufficient for detecting lionesses in estrus. Likewise, one cytology sample with a large proportion of parabasal and intermediate cells, few neutrophils, few bacteria, and large amount of mucous, cellular debris enabled detection of females in advanced diestrus or gestation. To distinguish lionesses in early diestrus from those in an inter-estrous period, at least two consecutive swabs were necessary for satisfactory classification. Overall, evaluation of vaginal cytology samples was an effective technique for differentiation among different stages of the reproductive cycle, confirmation of estrus, and pregnancy diagnosis in lionesses. This technique, therefore, has the potential for application in classifying different stages of the reproductive cycle in other feline species.
阴道细胞学评估是一种经济、非侵入性的技术，可间接监测雌激素浓度的波动，从而监测发情周期的进展。这项技术在犬科动物中被广泛用于确定人工授精的时间。然而，关于非家养猫科动物（包括狮子）的阴道细胞学仅有少数报道。因此，本研究旨在描述非洲狮繁殖周期中阴道上皮的变化，并研究阴道细胞学评估预测繁殖阶段的效果。在 12 个月的时间里，每天从 5 只母狮身上收集生殖行为数据和阴道拭子。总共评估了 541 个阴道涂片，以确定黏膜上皮细胞、中性粒细胞、细菌细胞的比例以及黏液、细胞碎片的数量。单一拭子中如果有大量表层细胞、无中性粒细胞、大量细菌、无细胞碎片，就足以检测到发情的母狮。同样，如果细胞学样本中有大量的基底细胞和中层细胞、少量中性粒细胞、少量细菌和大量黏液、细胞碎片，就可以检测到处于晚期发情或妊娠期的母狮。为了区分早期发情和非发情期的母狮，至少需要两个连续的拭子才能进行满意的分类。总的来说，阴道细胞学样本的评估是一种有效的技术，可以区分不同的繁殖周期阶段、确认发情和妊娠诊断。因此，这种技术有可能应用于其他猫科动物繁殖周期不同阶段的分类。
