Oestrogen metabolites in urine during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and puerperium in the Indian hanuman langur (Presbytis entellus entellus)

Abstract

Summary. Oestrone, oestradiol-17β and oestriol were detected in the urine of menstruating and pregnant langur monkeys. More oestrone than the other two oestrogens was excreted during the cycle and oestradiol-17β and oestriol could not be detected during the luteal phase. There was an increase in the amount of all the three oestrogens excreted during pregnancy when compared with the menstruating animals and oestriol was the major oestrogen excreted in the urine of pregnant langurs. Normal cyclic levels were reached 2 days after parturition. Most of the oestrogens (95 %) were conjugated with glucuronic acid and little with sulphuric acid or in any other form.