MONITORING THE ESTROUS-CYCLE OF THE ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS-MAXIMUS), USING URINARY ESTROGENS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (2) , 256-260
Abstract
The estrous cycle of the Asian elephant (E. maximus) was monitored by analysis of urinary estrogens. Daily morning urine samples were analyzed for estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and total immunoreactive estrogen (ET). The ET values correlated poorly with E1 and E2 values and did not reveal any patterns of reproductive cycling. Daily E1 and E2 values, indexed by creatinine concentrations, demonstrated cyclic profiles in those samples of sufficient concentration. The technique offered a simple, noninvasive method of documenting ovarian function in the elephant.