Comparative primate reproductive endocrinology: advancements important in domestic breeding programs

Recent advancements in primate reproductive endocrinology were reviewed with special emphasis given to hormonal patterns indicative of ovulation, technics for early pregnancy diagnosis, comparison of steroidal and gonadotropic hormonal patterns among various primates during advanced gestation, and identification of the individual contributions of the maternal, fetal, and placental compartments to the hormonal milieu of pregnancy. Each of these topics was examined according to its application to the management aspects of primate breeding.