OESTRADIOL AND PROGESTERONE LEVELS IN THE SERUM OF SHE-CAMEL AS RELATED TO DIFFERENT OVARIAN STRUCTURES

Oestradiol and progesterone levels were estimated, using radioimmunoassay, in the sera of 15 living and 28 slaughtered adult she-camels (Camelus dromedarius) having different structurs in their ovaries. A significant (P/0.001) increase of oestradiol level was observed in the sera of She camels having mature follicles than those having growing follicles or small atretic follicles in their ovaries. A sharp increase of oesteradiol level (325.0 + 148.02 and 396.2 + 85.6 pg/ml in living and slaughtered animals, respectively) was noticed in the sera of pregnant animals (with corpora lutea in their ovaries) al late stage of pregnancy. Serum pro gesterone level showed a significant (P/0.001) increase in she-camels having corpora lutea (pregnant or non- pregnant) than those having mature follicles or growing follicles or small atretic follicles in their ovaries. A significant (P/0.05) increase of progesterone level was also observed in the sera of animals with mature follicles than those with small atretic follicles in their gonads.