
%0 Journal Article
%A Girling, J. E. 
%A Bennett, E. J. 
%A Henderson, K. M. 
%A Cockrem, J. 
%T Persistence of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin in plasma of Japanese quail (<emph type="2">Coturnix</emph> <emph type="2">coturnix</emph> <emph type="2">japonica</emph>)
%J Reproduction, Fertility and Development
%D 2002/08/22
%V 14
%N 5
%P 287-290
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/RD01048
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/RD01048 
%X Pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG) is currently being used to develop a hormone regime that will stimulate reproductive development in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). In this study, the persistence of PMSG in quail plasma was examined after a single injection of the hormone (500 IU). Plasma concentrations of PMSG increased to a peak 12 h after injection and declined to approximately 50% of peak concentrations 24 h after injection. Pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin concentrations declined gradually thereafter and had not returned to basal levels by 96 h after injection. Cloacal diameter, and ovarian and oviducal mass, had increased significantly by 96 h after injection. The persistence of PMSG in quail plasma has implications for the use of the hormone in future regimes stimulating reproductive activity in birds. 
