LAPAROSCOPIC PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS AND UTERINE FLUID RECOVERY IN SWINE

Abstract

Endocrine Research Unit, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, U.S.A. (Received 17th December 1974) The technique of laparoscopy has been routinely used for repeated ovarian observation in the gilt (Wildt, Fujimoto, Spencer & Dukelow, 1973) as well as other species (Jewett & Dukelow, 1972; Rawson & Dukelow, 1973; Seeger, 1973; Snyder & Dukelow, 1974). In addition to its advantage for serial observations of ovarian morphology with minimal stress to the animal, laparoscopy has been found to be a practical substitute for laparotomy in other research areas. There are several reports of the use of pregnancy diagnosis techniques in swine (Walker, 1967; O'Reilly, 1967; Mather, Diehl & Tumbleson, 1970; Lindahl, Martin & Dziuk, 1972; Diehl & Day, 1973), but these procedures are not accurate until 20 days after mating and do not provide an indication of the number of ovulations or of the uterine and ovarian morphology. Recently, the biochemistry