Urinary steroid evaluations to monitor ovarian function in exotic ungulates: VII. Urinary progesterone metabolites in the Equidae assessed by immunoassay

Abstract

AbstractA direct enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for non‐specific urinary progesterone (Po) metabolites, utilizing a non‐specific monoclonal antibody against pregnanediol‐3‐glucuronide, was evaluated for the purpose of assessing luteal function in equids. Urinary pregnanediol‐3‐glucuronide (PdG) and immunoreactive PdG‐like conjugate (iPdG) concentrations, indexed by creatinine, were compared to plasma Po concentrations in non‐conceptive ovarian cycles through two ovulations in four mares. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of urine from lutealphase mares and a pregnant zebra revealed an absence of significant concentrations of PdG and the presence of at least three immunoreactive compounds, all of which were more polar than PdG. The concentration of iPdG in the mare ranged from a nadir of approximately 3 ng/mg Cr at the time of ovulation to nearly 400 ng/mg Cr at the mid‐luteal‐phase peak and paralleled plasma Po concentrations. This non‐radiometric assay for iPdG permits the assessment of ovulation, luteal formation and function, and luteolysis in unprocessed urine samples from domestic mares. Data from a single zebra indicate this approach also will permit simplified and non‐invasive longitudinal studies of ovarian function among a wide range of Equidae.