Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/56172
EARLY PUBERTY IN GUINEA PIGS IN A BREEDING ANIMAL FACILITY
Reprodução
Biologia Celular
Puberdade Precoce
Detecção do Estro
Ciência dos Animais de Laboratório
Author
Affilliation
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biomodelos. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Belém, PA, Brasil
Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas. Belém, PA, Brasil
Abstract
Lab animals, such as Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), are crucial for scientific development, as they play an
important role in the development and quality control chain of vaccines and drugs distributed by the
Brazilian public health system. Investigating their biological and physiological parameters is fundamental
to raise and keep these animals, so the handling of the facilities that hold them can be updated whenever
new information comes up, with the well-being of the animals and alignment with the 3 Rs in mind. In the
search for understanding reproductive aspects of Guinea pigs, the present study had the main goal of
studying puberty by means of estrous cycle analysis in short-haired Guinea pigs. Guinea pigs have a
vaginal occlusive membrane that covers the vaginal orifice. Its rupture takes place gradually and naturally,
moments before labor and during estrus. The present study followed 42 females as for the presentation
of the vaginal occlusive membrane. Once the membranes ruptured spontaneously, a swab was collected
to study vaginal cytology. Membrane rupture was observed in 39 females; six females showed membrane
rupture with less than 21 days of age (17 to 21 days). Twenty-three females were characterized as being
in estrus due to cytology showing a prevalence of anucleated superficial cells. One of these females was
younger than 21 days old. The opening of the vaginal occlusive membrane took place most frequently in
intervals between 17 and 18 days, and the membrane remained open between one and three consecutive
days. It was possible to follow three cycles of membrane opening on six females. The present study
showed the need to adapt handling guidelines for C. porcellus kept in research animal facilities. The early
age of puberty imposes the need of separate the female daughters from their fathers at 16 days old.
DeCS
CobaiasReprodução
Biologia Celular
Puberdade Precoce
Detecção do Estro
Ciência dos Animais de Laboratório
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