Control of parturient behaviour by prostaglandin F-2α in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii)

Abstract

Nulliparous female tammar wallabies during the non-breeding season and adult male wallabies were treated with PGF-2α at doses of 0.008, 0.04, 0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg. All the male and female wallabies responded to the three highest doses by showing parturient behaviour. At the lowest dose 4/4 males and 1/4 females responded. The peak concentrations of PGF-2α metabolite (PGFM) in the peripheral plasma after administration of 0.008, 0.04 and 0.2 mg PGF-2α/kg were 0.70 ± 0.08, 3.02 ± 0.37 and 8.48 ± 0.76 ng/ml (mean ± s.e.m.). Since the peak plasma concentrations of PGFM at normal parturition are reported to be 2.5 ± 0.9 ng/ml, parturient behaviour can be induced by physiological concentrations of ex..