THE PROGESTERONE CONCENTRATIONS IN THE PERIPHERAL PLASMA OF THE MINK (MUSTELA VISON) DURING PREGNANCY

Abstract

SUMMARY In mink bitches mated once, the progesterone levels in plasma remained at the basal level (< 8 ng/ml, i.e. comparable with the progesterone levels in anoestrous mink) during the first days after coitus. The duration of this lag period varied from 10 to about 20 days, and was found to correspond with the length of gestation. However, in general a gradual increase was observed beginning about 40 days before parturition with a maximum plasma progesterone concentration (63–105 ng/ml) from 10 to 25 days later on. After the peak value had been attained the plasma progesterone concentration declined gradually to the day of parturition and was low ( < 10 ng/ml) at parturition and afterwards. The progesterone values and profiles obtained from females mated twice corresponded with those obtained from females mated once. The increase in progesterone, however, began a few days after the second mating. The developmental stages of the foetuses corresponded clearly with the progesterone profile. In three mated females which failed to give birth a slow increase in progesterone concentration was observed beginning about 15 days post coitum. In these bitches the progesterone concentration reached a plateau (30–45 ng/ml) between day 30 and day 40 post coitum, after which a slow decline was observed. The period when the progesterone concentrations were increased above the basal level lasted about 40 days even in the females which did not give birth.