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Tropentag, October 7 - 9, 2008 in Hohenheim

"Competition for Resources in a Changing World:
New Drive for Rural Development"


Vaginal Cytology in Timor Deer Hind (Cervus timorensis) under Natural Estrous Cycle

Marlene Mesang-Nalley1, Henderiana Belli1, Iis Arifiantini2

1University of Nusa Cendana Kupang, Faculty of Animal Science, Indonesia
2Bogor Agriculture University, Departement of Clinic, Reproduction and Pathology, Indonesia


Abstract


The vaginal epithelium is influenced by hormonal changes during the oestrous cycle, allowing cyclic monitoring of the various reproductive stages. Hormonal fluctuations, especially of oestrogens, cause changes in the vaginal cellular profile. Increasing oestrogen concentrations cause cells proliferation, with thickening, of the vaginal epithelium and subsequent cell differentiation. The vaginal cytology of Indonesian hind deer has not been reported before.
Determination of the estrous cycle especially the length of oestrus and time of ovulation plays an important role in improving fertility and reproductive performance of farm animals. This study investigated the length of oestrous cycle and estrous period in order to estimate the time of ovulation, hence the right time for insemination.
Adult and healthy timor hind aged three years were used in this research. Vaginal smears were collected every morning for 90 days by gently passing a sterile cotton swab into the vaginal canal followed by a quick 180° rotation. Smears were transferred to 1-5 slides, air dried, and immediately, fixed with 100% ethanol and stained with Giesma. Smears were examined under a light microscope at magnification of 400 X. Two hundred epithelial cells from each slide were evaluated and classified.
Results of this research showed that there were four highest point (20, 18, and 16 days, averaging 18 days) superficial cells (85.75\,%), and four lowest point parabasal epithelial cell (14.25%), during 88 observation days. Under estrus condition, the cell population consists of ~90% superficial cells and < 5% parabasal or intermediate cells (Valary et al. 2008), while under metoestrus the cytology was characteristic with a dramatic ?shift? to 80 -100% of parabasal and intermediate cells.
This change is produced in about 24-28 h. We conclude that monitoring the cellular pattern of the vaginal epithelium of hind deer with natural estrus is an efficient tool to determine the length of the estrous cycle, which in timor hinds is 18 days.


Keywords: Estrus cycle, timor deer hinds, vagina cytology


Contact Address: Marlene Mesang-Nalley, University of Nusa Cendana Kupang, Faculty of Animal Science, Perum Molek Jl. Wayabula No. 59 Pondok Gede, 17411 Bekasi, Indonesia, e-mail: wm25_mesang@yahoo.com


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