Observations on ovarian structure and development of the southern giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis girafia

Abstract

The occurrence of vesicular follicles and corpora lutea (CL), without evidence of ovulation, in late fetuses and during prepubertal life was confirmed in the southern giraffe. In this, and other respects, the pattern of ovarian development is similar in the southern giraffe to the northern subspecies. This early ovarian activity recedes during late prepubertal life. Numerous accessory CL were present in pregnant and non· pregnant giraffe but they did not attain the size- of the true CL of pregnancy. The latter undergo an initial phase of rapid enlargement lasting about 100 days, followed by a period of recession till mid·pregnancy and a second growth phase which persists until term (457 days). The CL of pregnancy rapidly regresses after parturition. The accessory CL regress slowly and form normal looking corpora albicantia (CA). These CA are most abundant during early adult life as also are vesicular follicles.