ASSESSMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE HORMONE BY NON-INVASIVE METHODS IN ANIMAL MODELS, CASE OF COMMOM PALM CIVET (Paradoxurus hemarphroditus)

Thi Thu Hien Nguyen1,, Thanh Binh Nguyen 1,2
1 Thu Dau Mot University
2 Pham Ngoc Thach Medical University

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Abstract

Background: Accurate assessment of endocrine status is one of the most important factors to increase the effectiveness of assisted reproductive programs. This study aims to monitor reproductive hormones in civets to contribute to species conservation. Objective: To evaluate changes in testosterone of male civets, estradiol, and progesterone of female civets. Materials and methods: Collecting stool samples from civets, using the Enzyme Immunoassay (ELISA) method to determine hormone levels by sex and age. Results: The study determined the testosterone hormone levels in civets by sex and age, and the estradiol and progesterone levels in pregnant and non- pregnant female civets. In adult males, the FTM concentration was 9.57±2.16 μg/g df (April); 5.32±1.52 μg/g df (July); 10.25±2.36 (December). Fecal E2 concentrations in non-pregnant civets ranged from 0.05 to 7.01 μg/g df, mean of 1.07±0.84 μg/g df and a peak was 3.22±0.64 μg/g DF. During pregnancy, the level of P4 in the feces of civet civets ranged from 6.21 to 23.12 μg/g df; the average is 15.17±5.22 μg/g df. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that hormone testing in fecal samples is a reliable non-invasive method for monitoring testicular and ovarian activity in civets. Hormone monitoring will facilitate conservation breeding programs of civets in Vietnam and other parts of the world, and serve as a scientific basis for similar studies in animal models, aimed at monitoring steroid hormone metabolites in humans.

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References

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