The use of a slow release GnRH-agonist implant in female ferrets in season for oestrus suppression

摘要

The jill is a long-day breeder with a constant oestrus without mating. Persistent oestrogen production results in clinical signs of hyperoestrogenism including pancytopenia and death if untreated. As spaying is thought to be related to the developmentof hyperad-renocorticism, a non-invasive, safe and effective long-term treatment is needed for oestrus suppression in jills. Seven Jills in oestrus were treated with a 4.7 mg deslorelin implant. Blood samples for estradiol-17ss (E2) and progesterone (P4) determination were obtained before as well as 4 and 8 weeks after treatment; data are given as geometric mean (deviation factor, DF). Mean E2 was 280.2 pmol/L (1.7) before, 36.4 pmol/L (1.4) 4 and 21.6 pmol/L (1.1) 8 weeks after treatment (p < 0.0001).P4 before treatment was 1.4 nmol/L (2.6), 57.8 nmol/L (1.9) on week 4 and 3.8 nmol/L (2.6) on week 8 (p < 0.0001) indicating ovulation had occurred after implant insertion. Oestrous signs within the observation period of up to 32 months remained suppressed.