Determination of reproductive maturity in the female nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
At 3-month intervals from birth of 27 months of age, 3 female armadillos were killed. The number and size of follicles > 202 .mu.g were determined, plasma progesterone concentration was measured, and values were correlated with age. Blood samples were taken monthly be formoral vein puncture and plasma was analysed by radioimmunoassay for progesterone concentration. At necropsy, both ovaries were visually inspected for a corpus luteum, weighed and then processed for routine histology. The number of normal, antral follicles > 202 .mu.m were counted. These follicles were arbitrarily categorized into 15 different size groups (every 77 .mu.m). Total number of follicles > 202 .mu.m varied from 15.5 .+-. 1.3 at 15 months of age to 26.3 .+-. 1.9 at 21 months. Follicles of a size (> 978 .mu.g) mostly likely to ovulate were present only at .gtoreq. 9 monthsof age. Progesterone vlaues reamined below the adult concentration (5 ng/ml until 15 months of age. A concentration of progesterone indicative of ovulation (.apprx. 10 ng/ml) occurred between 17 and 20 months of age. The finding of the present study demonstrate that the female armadillo is reproductively mature after 15 months of age.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: