HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 74/6/1090    most recent biolreprod.105.050146v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by de Haas van Dorsser, F. J. Articles by Steinetz, B. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by de Haas van Dorsser, F. J. Articles by Steinetz, B. G. Agricola Articles by de Haas van Dorsser, F. J. Articles by Steinetz, B. G.

Development, Validation, and Application of a Urinary Relaxin Radioimmunoassay for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Pregnancy in Felids¹

Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife,³ Sharjah, United Arab Emirates Department of Veterinary Medicine,⁴ University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife,⁵ Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220 Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine,⁶ NYU School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987

ABSTRACT

Many nondomestic felids are highly endangered, and captive breeding programs have become essential components of holistic conservation efforts for these species. The ability to diagnose pregnancy early in gestation is fundamental to developing effective breeding programs. The purpose of this study was to develop a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the detection of urinary relaxin in felids and assess its applicability for early, noninvasive pregnancy diagnosis in domestic cats (Felis silvestris catus) and leopards (Panthera pardus). Urine was collected from pregnant and nonpregnant domestic cats and leopards at mating, and then weekly thereafter for the duration of gestation. Paired serum samples were also collected from the domestic cats. A RIA for relaxin that uses an antiserum against synthetic canine relaxin was validated for felid urine and shown to detect relaxin immunoreactivity in pregnant cat urine subjected to acid-acetone extraction. In the cat, urinary relaxin was first detected between Days 21 and 28 of gestation; levels peaked at 42–49 days, and the concentrations then declined over 2 wk prior to parturition. The urinary relaxin profiles of the cat mirrored those in serum. In the leopard, urinary relaxin was first detected at Day 25–28 of gestation; levels peaked at Day 60–64 and declined in the last 3–4 wk of pregnancy. These results indicate that measurement of urinary relaxin in the cat and leopard provides a reliable method for pregnancy determination from as early as 3–4 wk of gestation. This method of pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring may prove useful in the breeding management of domestic cats and other felid and canid species, and provides a foundation for future studies on pregnancy in captive exotic carnivores.

conservation, felid, implantation, pregnancy, relaxin

¹ Supported in part by NIEHS Center grant P30 ES00260 and NCI Center grant P30 CA016087.

² Correspondence: Bernard G. Steinetz, Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, 57 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987. FAX: 845 351 4510; steinetz{at}env.med.nyu.edu