Serum Oestrone Sulphate Concentrations Research Articles

Serum progesterone and oestrone sulphate concetrations for monitoring fertility in Sows

Blood samples were taken from 161 sows the days 19-21 (serum progesterone assessments), from 306 sows on days 24-30 (serum oestrone sulphate assessments) and from 150 sows on day 20 (serum progesterone assessments) and on days 26-29 (serum oestrone sulphate assessments) after service. Actual farrowing or abortion and signs of return to oestrus were used as criteria for pregnancy and non-pregnancy, respectively. Litter size was also recorded at each farrowing. The results showed that the overall accuracy of progesterone and oestrone sulphate for predicting pregnant sows was 90.7% and 97.2%, respectively. The highest accuracy of oestrone sulphate (100%) was noticed on days 27 and 28 after service. The overrall accuracy of the combination of both progesterone and oestrone sulphate assessments to detect pregnant sows was 97% and to detect non-pregnant sows was 100%. Significant correlation coefficients between serum oestrone sulphate concentration and litter size were found on days 24,26,27, 28,29 and 30, but the highest correlation coefficient was noticed on day 28 after service (r=0.51, Ρ, 0.001). Moreover, it was also found that mean litter size was significantly higher (P <0.05). in sows with serum oestrone sulphate concentrations > 1 ng/ml compared with concentrations < 1 ng/ml from day 26 up to day 30 after service. It is concluded that serum progesterone assessment helps in the determination of the non-pregnant sows early enough for problems related to failure of fertilization to be promptly dealt with. Serum oestrone sulphate concentration on day 28 after service can be used as an indicator of conception, as a predictor of small litter size and also can help in the estimation of embryonic mortality. The combination of these two assessments, in addition to their value in pregnancy diagnosis, can be useful in identifying concurrent reproductive problems in units with sub-optimal productivity.

Laparoscopic‐assisted castration of a monorchid male pseudohermaphrodite pony

SummaryA pseudohermaphrodite possesses gonads of one sex, but with external genitalia of the opposite sex. Although cases of male pseudohermaphroditism have been published, there is no report of a monorchid male pseudohermaphrodite. This Case Report documents a 12‐year‐old monorchid male pseudohermaphrodite displaying stallion‐like behaviour, with an elevated serum oestrone sulphate concentration confirming the presence of functional testicular tissue. A complete resolution of all behavioural signs occurred after laparoscopic‐assisted castration under general anaesthesia, along with a drop in serum oestrone sulphate concentrations to <0.01 ng/ml and no response in serum testosterone concentration following administration of hCG.

Pregnancy status determination in mares using a rapid lateral flow test for measuring serum oestrone sulphate

AIMS: To develop a means of determining pregnancy status in horses based on measuring serum oestrone sulphate (OS) concentrations using a rapid lateral flow immunoassay, and to determine the assay's effectiveness using a visual end-point. METHODS: Serum samples from mares >100 days post-mating (n=701) were assayed using a nitrocellulose membrane-based lateral flow immunoassay device. The device was developed using membrane-bound 1,3,5 (10)-estratrien-3-ol-17-one conjugated to bovine serum albumin as the capture antigen, and an OS-detection monoclonal antibody coupled to colloidal gold as the visible detection reagent. Concentrations of the coating antigen and OS monoclonal antibody were optimised so that the working range would allow pregnancy status to be determined from a visual end-point. The test was run by adding 0.1 ml serum to the sample well of a plastic cassette encasing the test membrane. As the serum migrated along the membrane, a test dot and control line were generated on it within 5–10 min. The intensity of the test dot was inversely proportional to the concentration of OS in the serum sample being tested. Results were compared with those from a validated OS enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and subsequent foaling or return to oestrus of the mares. RESULTS: Serum samples with OS concentrations <10 ng/ml, indicative of non-pregnancy in mares >100 days post-mating, generated a test end-point consisting of a highly visible test dot and control line, whereas serum OS concentrations >50 ng/ml, indicative of pregnancy, generated a control line only. The test correctly identified 384/389 (98.7%) non-pregnant mares tested, and 303/312 (97.1%) pregnant mares tested that were >100 days post-mating. The lateral flow test devices were stable for at least 12 months when stored at 4°C, sealed in aluminium pouches with desiccant. CONCLUSION: This novel, rapid, easy-to-use, lateral flow immunoassay offers a practical alternative to traditional laboratory-based immunoassays for measuring serum OS concentra- tions in mares for determining their pregnancy status.

Changes in plasma lipoprotein concentrations and composition in response to a low-fat, high-fiber diet are associated with changes in serum estrogen concentrations in premenopausal women

We have investigated the effects of a low-fat, high-fiber diet on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and serum sex hormone concentrations in 22 normal premenopausal women (mean age, 25.8 ± 3.8 years). Participants consumed a baseline diet for 4 weeks (40% of calories as fat, 16% as saturated fatty acids, 8% as polyunsaturated fatty acids, 400 mg/d cholesterol, and 12 g/d dietary fiber) and then a low-fat, high-fiber diet for 8 to 10 weeks (16% to 18% of calories as fat, 4% as saturated fatty acids, 4% as polyunsaturated fatty acids, 150 mg/d cholesterol, and 40 g/d fiber). Blood samples for determination of plasma lipids and serum hormones were obtained during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle during both diets. Compared with the baseline diet, the low-fat, high-fiber diet resulted in significant decreases in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations during both the follicular and luteal phases (TC, −14% and −16%; LDL cholesterol, −14% and −17%; and HDL cholesterol, −15% and −18%, respectively). During the follicular phase but not the luteal phase on the low-fat, high-fiber diet, women exhibited significant increases in plasma triglyceride ([TG] 22%) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG (36%) concentrations. During the follicular phase, serum estrone sulfate concentrations decreased by 25% ( P < .0001) when subjects were fed the low-fat, high-fiber diet. During this phase of the low-fat, high-fiber diet relative to the baseline diet, changes in HDL cholesterol levels were significantly and positively associated with changes in estrone levels ( r = .49, P < .02), and the ratio of TC to HDL cholesterol was inversely associated with the changes in estradiol and free estradiol levels ( r = −.47 and r = −.43, P < .05, respectively). Our data are consistent with the concept that in premenopausal women, low-fat, high-fiber diets reduce estrone sulfate levels and both LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels without affecting the TC to HDL cholesterol ratio. Moreover, changes in estrone and estradiol levels are associated with changes in HDL cholesterol and HDL-TG levels.

Use of pregnancy-specific protein-B and estrone sulfate for determination of pregnancy on Day 49 in fallow deer ( [formula omitted][formula omitted

The objective of this study was to determine if pregnancy specific protein-B (PSPB) and estrone sulfate (E 1SO 4) could be used to determine pregnancy status in fallow deer ( Dama dama ). Forty mature does were synchronized for estrus with an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device (CIDR) and then artificially inseminated via laparoscopy with frozen semen on one day. Ultrasound examination and jugular blood sampling were done 49 days later. Transrectal ultrasonography was done to presumptively determine the pregnancy status at the time of blood sampling. Serum estrone sulfate concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in pregnant (n=31) than nonpregnant (n=9) females at 49 days of gestation (166.7 ± 25.9 pg/ml vs 36.3 ± 11.1 pg/ml, respectively). The percentage of [ 125I]PSPB bound was significantly (P < 0.01) lower when sera of pregnant (n=29) versus nonpregnant (n=9) females was added to RIA tubes (63.7 ± 1.6% vs 98.1 ± 1.6%, respectively). There were 30 fawns born from the group of females that were diagnosed pregnant based on ultrasound. We conclude that estrone sulfate and PSPB can be used to determine pregnancy status in fallow deer at 49 days of gestation.

Salivary and serum estrone sulfate levels in pregnant mares

Summary Estrone Sulfate (ES) determinations on blood, milk or urine are valuable indicators of reproductive status in herbivores, but no data are available on salivary ES output. In order to assess the utility of a salivary sampling system for pregnancy diagnosis and fetal viability confirmation in horses, salivary and blood ES levels were monitored in parallel in pregnant and non-pregnant mares. Several different sampling techniques were tested and stability and yield characteristics established for each method. Extracted saliva and serum ES concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Samples were collected from mares at all stages of pregnancy and from non-pregnant mares. Salivary concentrations ran as high as 3000 pg/ml in those pregnant animals with serum concentrations greater than 30,000 pg/ml. In the majority of cases salivary ES levels accurately reflected the reproductive status of the mare. However, false positives and false negatives were recorded erratically with no perceptible pattern. These findings suggest that salivary monitoring of ES can not be relied upon as a practical means of monitoring reproductive status in mares.

An enzymeimmunoassay of serum oestrone sulphate and its application to early pregnancy diagnosis in pigs

A practical enzymeimmunoassay of serum oestrone sulphate was developed and applied to an early pregnancy diagnosis in sows. Blood samples were collected from 238 sows on days 15 to 26 after mating (day 0 = day of last service). Serum oestrone sulphate concentrations of 0·9 ng/ml or higher were indicative of pregnancy, which was confirmed by parturition or abortion. The accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis by enzymeimmunoassay was 100% ( 151 151 ) between days 17 and 26 after mating, but only 8·2% ( 6 73 ) for non-pregnant animals up to day 19. The negative test was 78·6% accurate ( 11 14 ) between days 20 and 26. Thus the correct diagnosis of pregnancy in sows by serum oestrone sulphate concentration was possible on days 20 to 26 after mating with a total accuracy of 97·8% ( 135 138 ). The enzymeimmunoassay for measurement of serum oestrone sulphate may be a practical tool for early pregnancy diagnosis in sows.

Direct estimation of oestrone sulphate in sow serum for a rapid pregnancy diagnosis test.

An antiserum raised against oestrone-3-glucuronide-BSA was used for the direct radioimmunoassay of oestrone sulphate in pig serum. The method has a minimum sensitivity of 0.2 ng/ml and is potentially an accurate pregnancy test in pigs. Serum oestrone sulphate concentrations were less than or equal to 0.5 ng/ml in non-pregnant cyclic sows and greater than 0.5 ng/ml in pregnant sows bled 26-29 days after service.

Estimation of oestrone sulphate in the serum of pregnant sows.

Oestrone sulphate was extracted from pig serum with tetrahydrofuran and then hydrolysed with sulphatase. The radioimmunoassay of liberated oestrone was carried out directly on the reaction mixture. Oestrone sulphate concentrations were less than 60 pg/ml in non-pregnant sows. Detectable concentrations of oestrone sulphate were found in serum as early as the 18th day of gestation, and these rose to maximum levels of 2.1-3.5 ng/ml by Days 26-29 then fell to about 0.1 ng/ml by Day 37. Serum oestrone sulphate concentrations were not related to litter size, but were good indicators of early pregnancy.