Prolonged luteal lifespan and pseudopregnancy in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

Pseudopregnancy is a physiological occurrence in mammals which have copulation induced ovulation, but is rarely described in spontaneous ovulating species. In this study, three cases of prolonged luteal lifespan are reported in non-pregnant Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Case 1 was a 25-year-old female that had produced three calves previously; Case 2 was a nulliparous and 32-year-old at the start of the pseudopregnancy episode; and Case 3 occurred in a 49-year-old nulliparous elephant. Serum progesterone metabolite concentrations remained elevated for 10 months in Case 1. Urinary progestagens were high for >16 months in Case 2 and for five months in Case 3. In Case 1, multiple persistent corpora lutea were visualized monthly by ultrasonography. In all three cases, uterine leiomyoma were present and progestagen concentrations decreased spontaneously. In Case 1, the elephant became pregnant 3 years later, whilst with Case 2, the female resumed estrous cycling normally, and for the Case 3 female, there was continuation with another prolonged luteal phase before ovarian function was purposely suppressed. These examples indicate that persistently elevated progestagen concentrations may not always be indicative of pregnancy in elephants. The reasons for prolonged luteal lifespan are not understood, although serum prolactin concentrations quantified in the Case 1 female were elevated compared to values from previous reports and two other herd mates. Furthermore, all three elephants had varying degrees of uterine pathologies. It is believed that the resulting damage to the endometrium may have led to a reaction similar to implantation, which includes prolactin secretion. Prolactin may exert luteotropic properties and is thought to initiate luteal rescue during pregnancy in elephants.

Canine pseudopregnancy: an evaluation of prevalence and current treatment protocols in the UK.

BACKGROUND: There is a dearth of literature on pseudopregnancy in the bitch, with only a few treatment-based studies published since the 1990s. Pseudopregnancy may be under-recognised in bitches and may account for a proportion of behavioural cases seen in veterinary practices including aggression. Little is known about commonly used treatments for overtly pseudopregnant bitches and it is possible that current regimes may not be prescribed for a sufficient duration to control any clinical signs including, physical and behavioural changes. To investigate current trends in diagnosis and treatment of canine pseudopregnancy, a postal survey was sent to 2000 randomly selected veterinary surgeons in UK veterinary practices. The questionnaire queried how often vets recognise cases of pseudopregnancy in spayed and entire bitches, which physical or behavioural signs are commonly recognised for diagnosis, and which management or treatment protocols are used. RESULTS: The response rate was 19.8% (397/2000). Ninety-six percent of veterinary surgeons reported seeing pseudopregnant bitches showing behavioural changes without any physical changes within the last 12 months. Of those behavioural changes, collecting and mothering objects was the most frequently reported behavioural sign (96%). Ninety-seven percent of vets had seen aggression in pseudopregnant bitches. Nevertheless, only 52% of vets routinely asked owners about behavioural changes during consultations. Forty-nine percent of respondents reported seeing pseudopregnancy in spayed bitches. The most commonly reported physical sign was enlarged mammary glands and/or milk production (89%). Treatment options varied (surgical, medical or none) and depended on duration and severity of physical and behavioural signs, owners' preference, cost, concurrent disease, drug availability and previous history. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest epidemiological study of canine pseudopregnancy in the UK. The prevalence and severity of clinical signs in dogs with pseudopregnancy are variable and possibly under-estimated. Dogs with overt pseudopregnancy experience diverse physical and behavioural changes and information on standard treatment protocols are lacking. Although, progress on our understanding of diagnosis and treatment of pseudopregnancy in spayed and entire bitches has been made, further studies are warranted.

Endocrinology and physiology of pseudocyesis.

This literature review on pseudocyesis or false pregnancy aims to find epidemiological, psychiatric/psychologic, gynecological and endocrine traits associated with this condition in order to propose neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms leading to the emergence of pseudocyetic traits. Ten women from 5 selected studies were analyzed after applying stringent criteria to discriminate between cases of true pseudocyesis (pseudocyesis vera) versus delusional, simulated or erroneous pseudocyesis. The analysis of the reviewed studies evidenced that pseudocyesis shares many endocrine traits with both polycystic ovarian syndrome and major depressive disorder, although the endocrine traits are more akin to polycystic ovarian syndrome than to major depressive disorder. Data support the notion that pseudocyetic women may have increased sympathetic nervous system activity, dysfunction of central nervous system catecholaminergic pathways and decreased steroid feedback inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. Although other neuroendocrine/endocrine pathways may be involved, the neuroendocrine/endocrine mechanisms proposed in this review may lead to the development of pseudocyetic traits including hypomenorrhea or amenorrhea, galactorrhea, diurnal and/or nocturnal hyperprolactinemia, abdominal distension and apparent fetal movements and labor pains at the expected date of delivery.

[Clinical signs, diagnostic approach and therapy for the so-called ovarian remnant syndrome in the bitch]. / Klinische Symptomatik, diagnostische Vorgehensweise und Therapie beim so genannten Ovarrest-Syndrom der Hündin.

The ovarian remnant syndrome arises as a consequence of incomplete ovariectomy or ovariohysterectomy. Remnant ovarian tissue which has been left mostly unintentionally in the bitch may show endocrine activity a few weeks to several years after surgery, provoking a variety of clinical signs. The majority of affected bitches return to heat, in other cases signs of pseudopregnancy and endometritis may be observed. Occasionally, bitches with unclear clinical signs are presented with the suspicion of an inactive ovarian remnant. The following article intends to place the origin of the ovarian remnant syndrome into a factual context regarding the responsibility of the veterinarian and to demonstrate a reasonable diagnostic procedure according to the respective clinical signs. In this regard, the clinical-gynaecological examination, including vaginal cytology, must receive high priority, with the addition of progesterone analysis in peripheral blood plasma or serum if required. Using these combined diagnostic tools, ovarian remnants in stages of endocrine activity (follicular and luteal phases as well as cystic or tumourous ovarian tissue) can be easily unequivocally diagnosed. The application of a GnRH-stimulation test is only reasonable in bitches in which clinical signs are missing. In this context, the usefulness of semi-quantitative LH-assays is also discussed.

Urinary tract infection complicated by urine retention presenting as pseudocyesis in a schizophrenic patient.

Pseudocyesis is a rare condition wherein a nonpregnant woman shows signs and symptoms of pregnancy, such as abdominal enlargement, breast enlargement, pigmentation, cessation of menses, subjective sensation of fetal movement and labor pains at the expected delivery date. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, it is classified as a somatoform disorder, characterized by a false belief of being pregnant that is associated with objective signs of pregnancy. We report the case of a middle-aged female schizophrenic patient who developed pseudocyesis secondary to a urinary tract infection complicated by acute urine retention. The patient accepted that she had pseudocyesis after the causative medical condition resolved.

Erythrocytic parameters as indicators for differentiating between the pregnant and pseudopregnant bitches in Nigeria.

The erythrocytic parameters during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in bitches were studied and compared in 8 bitches aged 2 -3 years and weighing 10-12 kg. Blood samples were collected from the bitches before mating, during the three trimesters of pregnancy and the post partum period. The packed cell volume (PCV %), haemoglobin concentration (Hb gm/dl), red blood cell count(x10(6)/µl) were determined using standard methods. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were then calculated. Six of the bitches were pregnant and 2 were pseudopregnant. The results showed that in pregnant bitches, the PCV decreased significantly from the premating values of 51.37+0.94% to 34.00+8.04% during the third trimester of pregnancy (P<0.05). There was also a significant decrease in Hb values (P<0.05) from the premating period (16.30 ± 0.20gm/dl) to the third trimester of pregnancy (11.25±1.80gm/dl). The values of Red blood cells (RBCx10(6)/µl) during the premating period (12.70+3.15) were not significantly different from the values during the first second and third trimesters (11.13+3.87, 10.38+4.54 and 12.24+3.15, respectively). The trend of decrease in PCV and Hb values were not observed in the bitches with pseudopregnancy. This shows that these erythrocytic parameters can be used to detect and differentiate between pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in bitches as early as the first 20 days post mating.

Pseudocyesis.

Pseudocyesis - a clinical syndrome seen in non-psychotic woman, known since the time of Hippocrates. Pseudocyesis has a psychological basis in which a woman's wish for pregnancy is essential to their identity and self-esteem. Normally, pseudocyesis is seen in women who desperately want to become pregnant, especially those with longstanding infertility. Basically, the treatment of Pseudocyesis is to help these patients recognize the illness and to educate and counsel them. Here is the case of pseudocyesis in which there is no history of long standing infertility. This case is rare and liable to be missed.

A review of canine pseudocyesis.

The purpose of this article is to review the most relevant features of the physiology, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of canine pseudocyesis (PSC). This is a physiological syndrome, characterized by clinical signs such as: nesting, weight gain, mammary enlargement, lactation and maternal behaviour, which appears in non-pregnant bitches at the end of metaoestrus. PSC is a frequent finding in domestic dogs. Although it is generally admitted that prolactin (PRL) plays a central role in the appearance of PSC, its precise aetiophysiology is not completely understood yet. A number of clinical studies suggest that at some point of metaoestrus circulating PRL levels rise in overtly pseudopregnant bitches. Individual differences in sensitivity to PRL as well as the existence of molecular variants of canine PRL with different bioactivity versus immunoreactivity ratios may help clarify the aetiopathology of PSC. Diagnosis of PSC is based on the presence of typical clinical signs in metaoestrous non-pregnant bitches. Considering that PSC is a self limiting physiological state, mild cases usually need no treatment. Discouraging maternal behaviour and sometimes fitting Elizabethan collars to prevent licking of the mammary glands may suffice in these cases. Sex steroids (oestrogens, progestins and androgens) have been traditionally used to treat PSC but the side-effects usually outweigh the benefits of these medications. Inhibition of PRL release by ergot derivatives [bromocriptine (10-100 microg/kg per day for 10-14 days], cabergoline (5 microg/kg per day during 5-10 days), metergoline (0.2 mg/kg per day during 8-10 days) has proved to be effective for the treatment of canine PSC. Although some of these ergot derivatives present some untoward side-effects, they are transient and can usually be managed. Predisposed bitches not intended for breeding should be spayed as ovariectomy is the only permanent preventive measure.

Delusional pregnancy in a patient with primary sterility.

The case of a patient suffering from primary sterility who developed a well-systemized delusion of pregnancy is described. The patient did not have a history of psychiatric disorder or organic cerebral pathology. No history of epilepsy was detected in this patient contrary to the reports in the literature, and these facts have pathogenic relevance in delusional pregnancy. The importance of psychological factors in the development of a delusion of pregnancy is discussed.

[Giant pedunculated leiomyoma of the fundus uteri]. / Leiomioma gigante peduncolato del fondo dell'utero.

The Authors report an uncommon giant leiomyoma of the uterus observed in a young woman after a prolonged and misknown course. The peculiar features of these large neoplasms as well as the diagnostic methods and the difficulties of the surgical treatment are discussed. The patient underwent successful surgical removal of the tumour with preservation of uterus and ovaries, and is still in good health after a two year follow up.

Breast engorgement, false positive pregnancy tests, and ectopic gonadotrophin production with bronchogenic carcinoma.

Entopic and ectopic production of hCG is recognized to occur in a number of differing neoplasms. We describe two women in the fifth decade of life who presented with breast engorgement and false positive pregnancy tests because of ectopic hCG production in bronchogenic carcinomas. HCG served as a useful tumor marker in both women. In one patient, the recognition of elevated hCG levels led to identification of an occult, early stage bronchogenic carcinoma that was resected for cure. A search for an occult neoplasm should be undertaken in nonpregnant patients with elevated hCG levels. Because of the increasing prevalence of bronchogenic carcinoma in young women, recognition of this syndrome may become more common and facilitate the earlier diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma in such patients.