Plotka E D, Seal U S, Zarembka F R, Simmons L G, Teare A, Phillips L G, Hinshaw K C, Wood D G
Marshfield Medical Research Foundation, Wisconsin 54449.
Biol Reprod. 1988 Mar;38(2):309-14. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod38.2.309.
Serum samples were collected weekly for 3 yr from two female African elephants, for 18 mo from two other female African elephants, and for 2 yr from two female Asian elephants. Animals were not sedated at the time of blood collection. Ovarian cycles, characterized by changes in progesterone and immunoreactive luteinizing hormone (ILH) concentrations, averaged 15.9 +/- 0.6 wk (N = 25) for African females and 14.7 +/- 0.5 wk for Asian females (N = 10). The length of the active luteal phase averaged 10.0 +/- 0.3 wk for African elephants (range 8-14 wk) and 10.6 +/- 0.6 wk for Asian females (range 9-13 wk). Interluteal phases were 5.9 +/- 0.6 wk for African females and 4.2 +/- 0.5 wk for Asian females. One African female (Maliaca) had two extended interluteal phases, both occurring between the months of February and May. Excluding these two periods, there were no differences in the length of the ovarian cycle or the length of the luteal phase between species of elephant. Serum progesterone in both species ranged from less than 50 pg/ml to 933 pg/ml. Average progesterone concentrations during the luteal phase were significantly lower in African elephants compared with Asian elephants (328 +/- 13, N = 30 cycles vs. 456 +/- 23, N = 14 cycles; p less than 0.001). ILH ranged from nondetectable to 11.6 ng/ml. These data suggest that the length of the ovarian cycle in the African elephant is about 16 wk and confirm that the length of the ovarian cycle in the Asian elephant is about 15 wk.
在3年的时间里，每周从两头雌性非洲象身上采集血清样本；在18个月的时间里，从另外两头雌性非洲象身上采集血清样本；在2年的时间里，从两头雌性亚洲象身上采集血清样本。采血时动物未进行麻醉。以孕酮和免疫反应性促黄体生成素（ILH）浓度变化为特征的卵巢周期，非洲雌性大象平均为15.9±0.6周（N = 25），亚洲雌性大象平均为14.7±0.5周（N = 10）。非洲象黄体活跃期平均长度为10.0±0.3周（范围8 - 14周），亚洲雌性大象为10.6±0.6周（范围9 - 13周）。非洲雌性大象的黄体间期为5.9±0.6周，亚洲雌性大象为4.2±0.5周。一头非洲雌性大象（Maliaca）有两个延长的黄体间期，均发生在2月至5月之间。排除这两个时期后，两种大象的卵巢周期长度或黄体期长度没有差异。两种大象的血清孕酮范围均为低于50 pg/ml至933 pg/ml。与亚洲象相比，非洲象黄体期的平均孕酮浓度显著较低（328±13，N = 30个周期 vs. 456±23，N = 14个周期；p < 0.001）。ILH范围为不可检测至11.6 ng/ml。这些数据表明非洲象的卵巢周期长度约为16周，并证实亚洲象的卵巢周期长度约为15周。
