Serum concentrations of chorionic gonadotrophin, oestradiol-17β and progesterone during early pregnancy in the south Indian bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata)

Abstract

Serum concentrations of chorionic gonadotrophin (CG) during early pregnancy in the bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata), were determined by a radioimmunoassay validated for measuring monkey chorionic gonadotrophin. The earliest time at which CG could be detected was on the 28th day of a fertile cycle and it could not be detected beyond the 50th day. During a fertile cycle, mean values of oestradiol-17β in addition to exhibiting a preovulatory peak around Days 9-10 of cycle, exhibited a secondary peak around Day 30 of the cycle. Serum progesterone levels remained elevated throughout the period of study from Day 18 to Day 50 and at no time did the levels fall below 2 ng/ml.