Temporal association of serum progesterone concentrations and vaginal cytology in walruses (Odobenus rosmarus).

摘要: Concentrations of serum estradiol-17β and progesterone were monitored in six female walruses using an enzyme immunoassay. Progesterone concentrations increased from March to May females aged 6 y or older, subsequently declined (October). No significant elevation concentration was detected before concentration. Vaginal smears four examined with Papanicolaou staining. In all females, most epithelial cells basophilic intermediate-superficial cells; no color change eosinophilic the detected. Meanwhile, percentage anucleate vaginal reached its highest value concentration, followed by increase leukocytes. We inferred that populations leukocytes reflected ovarian status CL formation walruses.