Association between reproductive behaviour and androgen metabolite excretion in free-ranging male giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Little is known on the giraffe’s reproductive behaviour, particularly observations of male sexual behaviour are scarce. Most information results from studies on captive animals, and observations of free-ranging giraffes were mainly focused on social structure within herds and only yield limited data on the bulls‘ tendency of roaming between cows’ herds. In addition, no data […]
Ovarian and placental morphology and endocrine functions in the pregnant giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Gross, histological and immunocytochemical examinations carried out on maternal and fetal reproductive tissues from two pregnant giraffes at an estimated 8 and 13.5 months of gestation (term=15 months) revealed a typically ruminant macrocotyledonary placenta with binucleate trophoblast cells scattered sparsely in the placentome where they stained intensely with a prolactin antiserum. Binucleate cells were present […]
Ovarian progestins in Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Gonadal progestins from fetal, juvenile, pregnant and non-pregnant Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) were extracted, purified by TLC and measured by GLC or by competitive protein-binding assay. Progesterone was found in fetal ovaries and in a fibrotic CL from a nearterm fetus as well as in CL from juvenile animals. In pregnant animals, luteal progesterone probably […]