Vaginal lumen cytology and peripheral sex hormone concentrations at different vaginal orifice statuses in the female greater Grasscutter
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Date
2019
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Animal Science Association of Nigeria
Abstract
This study aimed to characterise the oestrous cycle of the female greater grasscutter (Thryonomys
swinderianus) through investigating the pattern of exfoliated vaginal epithelia cells and peripheral sex
hormone profiles in two different vaginal orifice status (open and close) displayed by the animal. Vaginal
smears and blood samples were collected every other day from 12 non pregnantgrasscutterdoes for 7 days
regardless of the vaginal orifice status. The cells in the smear were classified into parabasal, intermediate,
superficial and metoestrus epithelial cell. Blood plasmawas assayed for estradiol (E2) and progesterone
(P4) hormones. Irrespective of the vaginal status, intermediate cells were predominant with 54% and
56.7% for open and close vagina orifice, respectively. Superficial cells were15 % in open vagina status as
against 9 % in the close vagina status. E2 concentration was significantly higher (P ˂ 0.05) in the open
vagina status (6.75 vs 3.91 ng/ml) whereas P4 concentration was similar in both statuses. In conclusion,
the similarity in the occurrence of vaginal lumen cells at open and close status indicated that the
grasscutter could be an induced ovulator while the higher E2 concentration in the open vagina status could
mean higher sexual receptivity at this stage.
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Keywords
Greater grasscutter; induced ovulator; sex hormones; vaginal cytology
Citation
Ajao, B.H., Ola, S.I., Oyebanji, B.O., Okukpe, K.M. & Alli, O.I. (2019): Vaginal lumen cytology and peripheral sex hormone concentrations at different vaginal orifice statuses in the female greater Grasscutter. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science, 21 (3): 82 - 88.