Maintenance of pregnancy in goats: Relationships between the fetus, the corpora lutea and the concentrations of progesterone in the maternal plasma

Reproductive efficiency in goats is limited by spontaneous pseudopregnancy and abortion. These conditions are affected by the need for the corpus luteum (CL) to maintain progesterone throughout gestation. A study was done to understand the interrelationships of the CL, maintenance of pregnancy, the presence of the fetus and concentrations of progesterone. The influence of the number of CL on the concentration of progesterone and maintenance of pregnancy was assessed first by monitoring concentration of progesterone in 79 goats from day 0 to day 45 of gestation. The qualitative and quantitative relationships of the numbers of CL and fetuses, the concentration of progesterone and the maintenance of pregnancy was then assessed by systematic alteration of numbers of CL and fetuses at laparotomy near day 45 of gestation. Adjustment of numbers of CL was by unilateral ovariectomy and fetus numbers were adjusted by fetectomy. The concentration of progesterone was measured by radioimmunoassay of plasma samples collected frequently from the jugular vein from day 0 to day 75.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Sciences

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Jarrell, Vickie Louise

• Agriculture, Animal Culture and Nutrition

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1989 Jarrell, Vickie Louise

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI8924853
(UMI)AAI8924853

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/23248