Evaluating the effects of different methods of estrus synchronization in the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina)

Abstract

There has been limited work done on estrus synchronization or induction in the Dasyprocta species. This experiment sought to apply three different methods of estrus synchronization to fifteen agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) which were placed into three treatments. Treatment 1 received gonadorelin acetate (Fertiline®) injections subcutaneously (40 µg); treatment 2 received two doses of dinoprost tromethamine (Lutalyse®) injections intramuscularly (2.5 mg) nine days apart and; treatment 3 received gonadorelin acetate (Fertiline®) injections subcutaneously (40 µg), followed seven days later by dinoprost tromethamine (Lutalyse®) injections intramuscularly (2.5 mg) and a second gonadorelin acetate (Fertiline®) injection subcutaneously (40 µg) given two days after. Daily vaginal swabbing, followed by cytological analysis was done until estrus was noted in all animals. All animals were successfully synchronized, with estrus being observed 17.40 ± 0.24, 7.25 ± 0.25 and 7.60 ± 0.24 days post treatment for treatments 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Return to estrus in females from treatment 1 was later than the other two treatments (p < 0.001), which can be due to the effect of a single gonadorelin actetate (Fertiline®) administration. Since this hormone has a luteotropic effect, and all animals were in their luteal phases, it would have maintained the life of the corpora lutea already present in these animals. The estrus cycle of D. leporina can therefore be synchronized using any of these three protocols, with the double PGF2α and OvSynch protocols demonstrating the fastest period of time for the onset of estrus.