Table 2.
Mean (±SEM) serum progestagens, cortisol, and prolactin concentrations (ng/mL) across different phases of the estrous cycle and period of pregnancy.
| Status | Period | Progestagens (ng/mL) | Cortisol (ng/mL) | Prolactin (ng/mL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnant | 1st | 2.74 ± 0.24 a | 0.76 ± 0.08 a | 8.59 ± 1.76 a |
| 2nd | 3.40 ± 0.22 a | 0.91 ± 0.11 a | 31.15 ± 2.53 b | |
| 3rd | 3.09 ± 0.21 a | 0.62 ± 0.08 a | 36.47 ± 3.34 b | |
| Overall mean | 2.92 ± 0.11 | 0.81 ± 0.06 | 24.82 ± 1.64 | |
| Cycling | Follicular phase | 0.23 ± 0.05 a | 2.80 ± 0.77 a | 2.06 ± 0.15 a,* |
| Luteal phase | 2.54 ± 0.29 b | 6.52 ± 1.00 b | 1.54 ± 0.24 a,* | |
| Overall mean | 1.68 ± 0.19 | 3.65 ± 0.44 | 1.86 ± 0.08 * |
* Excludes E5 that had abnormally high prolactin concentrations. Mean values in the same row bearing different superscript letters (a, b) were significantly different (p < 0.05).