Analysis of estrogen and progesterone concentrations in feces during the estrous cycle different phases as a non invasive alternative proposal in female Wistar rats

• Grant number: 06/01261-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2006
• End date: May 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Claudio Alvarenga de Oliveira
• Grantee: Erika Martins van Tol
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nowadays, more are the demands for a precisely way to quantificate the concentration of the circulating reproductive hormones so this way, we can be sure about witch fase in the oestrous cycle the female is e also, its reproductive characteristics such as, fertility. This project will be developed with female Wistar rats raised in "Biotério Central" of "Instituto Butantan". 24 animals will have their faeces collected for 8 days, with an interval of 3 hours between the collections, these samples will be put into a -20ºC freezer until analyses, this period corresponds to two oestrous cycles, and the measurement of stradiol and progesterone will be done. At the same time the faeces are been collected a swab will be done to read the oestrous cycle fase for each animal, everyday. The main point of this study is to compare the hormones concentrations in faces in the different fases of oestrous cycle, finding a correspondence with them. Non-Invasive methods, such as fecal analyses, are very important with small rodents like rats, as, a frequent sampling can severe damage the animal or even kill it. (AU)