PLASMA OESTRADIOL, LUTEINIZING HORMONE AND PROGESTERONE DURING PREGNANCY IN THE BEAGLE BITCH

Abstract

Recent reports have recorded results of the simultaneous measurement of the concentration of progesterone and LH in the blood plasma of the dog during the oestrous cycle and pregnancy (Jones, Boyns, Bell, Christie & Parkes, 1973) and of oestradiol-17β, progesterone and LH during the oestrous cycle (Jones, Boyns, Cameron, Bell, Christie & Parkes, 1973). We report here the results of simultaneous measurement of oestradiol-17β, progesterone and LH in the plasma of the Beagle bitch during pregnancy. Four Beagle bitches were maintained under controlled conditions and blood samples were collected between 14.00 and 15.00 hours; all animals were parous. The onsets of pro-oestrus and oestrus were determined by methods previously described (Christie & Bell, 1971). The bitches were each mated on two