Kodzue Kinoshita1, Yusuke Sano2, Akira Takai3, Mika Shimizu4, Toshio Kobayashi5, Akihiro Ouchi6, Noko Kuze7,8, Miho Inoue-Murayama9,10, Gen'ichi Idani9, Munehiro Okamoto1, Yasuhiko Ozaki11. 1. Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Japan. 2. Osaka Municipal Tennoji Zoological Gardens, Osaka, Japan. 3. Kobe Municipal Oji Zoo, Kobe, Japan. 4. Tama Zoological Park, Hino, Japan. 5. Zoorasia Yokohama Zoological Gardens, Yokohama, Japan. 6. Asahikawa City Asahiyama Zoo, Ashashikawa, Japan. 7. Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Chiyoda, Japan. 8. National Museum of Nature and Science, Tsukuba, Japan. 9. Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan. 10. National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan. 11. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Under the environment of pregnancy, the placenta assumes an important steroidogenic role in the maintenance of pregnancy. METHODS: Urinary placental leucine aminopeptidase (PLAP), estrone-3-glucuronide (E1 G), and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) concentrations were compared among five pregnancies (four live births and one stillbirth) in four orangutans. RESULTS: The gestation period of the stillbirth (223 days) was shorter than that of the live births (239-254 days). In females who gave a live birth, average PLAP and E1 G concentrations increased until the delivery. Conversely, in the female who gave a stillbirth, PLAP concentration failed to increase, and E1 G concentration was significantly low in late pregnancy period. Regarding PdG concentrations, there was no significant difference among all pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study reporting a change in urinary PLAP, E1 G, and PdG concentrations during orangutan stillbirth and live birth pregnancies. The findings will assist in developing pregnancy screening tests.
BACKGROUND: Under the environment of pregnancy, the placenta assumes an important steroidogenic role in the maintenance of pregnancy. METHODS: Urinary placental leucine aminopeptidase (PLAP), estrone-3-glucuronide (E1 G), and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide (PdG) concentrations were compared among five pregnancies (four live births and one stillbirth) in four orangutans. RESULTS: The gestation period of the stillbirth (223 days) was shorter than that of the live births (239-254 days). In females who gave a live birth, average PLAP and E1 G concentrations increased until the delivery. Conversely, in the female who gave a stillbirth, PLAP concentration failed to increase, and E1 G concentration was significantly low in late pregnancy period. Regarding PdG concentrations, there was no significant difference among all pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study reporting a change in urinary PLAP, E1 G, and PdG concentrations during orangutan stillbirth and live birth pregnancies. The findings will assist in developing pregnancy screening tests.