Levels of Luteinizing Hormone, Estradiol and Progesterone in Serum During the Estrous Cycle and Pregnancy in the Beagle Bitch

Levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol-17 beta and progesterone were determined by specific radioimmunoassays in sera obtained from Beagle bitches during proestrus, estrus and diestrus. Concentrations of LH (expressed as NIH-LH-SI equivalents) were 2.8 plus or minus 0.1 ng/ml in proestrus, 35.5 plus or minus 10.0 ng/ml during early estrus and 2.2 plus or minus 0.1 ng/ml in early diestrus. Peak levels of estradiol-17beta (68.9 plus or minus 11.0 ng/ml) were detected 24 hr prior to the LH peak, declined rapidly and reached basal levels (17.8 plus or minus 6.3 ng/ml) by five days following the LH peak. Levels of progesterone were 1.7 plus or minus 0.3 ng/ml during proestrus, 3.5 plus or minus 0.3 ng/ml during early estrus and 23.3 plus or minus 2.8 ng/ml on day 5 after the LH peak . Progesterone levels remained elevated through day 28 of diestrus and pregnancy. A significant decrease (p smaller than 0.05) in levels of prosgesterone occurred between day 28 of pregnancy and one day prior to shelping (3.3 plus or minus 1.2 ng/ml, with a further decrease on the day of whelping (1.1 plus or minus 0.2 ng/ml). Levels of estradiol-17beta and LH did not change significantly (p smaller than 0.0k) during diestrus or pregnancy.