Acta endocrinologica
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Acta endocrinologica · Jun 1976
Comparative StudyHormonal changes during the menstrual cycle of the baboon (Papio hamadryas).
Eleven unconjugated steroids were measured daily during a complete cycle in the peripheral plasma of 6 normally menstruating baboons (Papio hamadryas) by means of a radioimmunoassay procedure and the levels were compared with those found previously in 17 normally menstruating women. The patterns of progesterone and 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone were very similar to those found in women throughout the entire menstrual cycle. However, the ratio of these steroids differed markedly from that found in women. ⋯ However, an elevation of the above five steroids, typical for the human luteal phase, was not found in baboons. The increase of testosterone values, seen in women at mid-cycle, was not detected in baboons. The plasma concentrations were lower in baboons than in humans for all the above steroids.