A RAPID, ON-SITE, TEST FOR OVULATION PREDICTION

由卵巢合成和分泌的类固醇激素雌二醇(E2)是哺乳动物排卵时间的准确指标。准确预测排卵时间的能力大大提高了商业养殖场的效率，从而提高了盈利能力。目前，兽医和养殖场经理必须将样本提交给诊断实验室，以确定雌二醇浓度。这一过程昂贵，效率低下，需要复杂的检测系统。建议的研究旨在开发和验证一种快速、现场比色测试方法，用于测定生物体液中的雌二醇水平。现场测试将以这样的方式设计，以产生三个阶段的颜色显影，其中低E2浓度将导致强烈的颜色变化，中等E2浓度将导致温和但可辨别的颜色变化，而高E2浓度将不会产生颜色变化。将测试两种分析方法，即固相和液相。每种方法都将利用几种底物来确定产生与雌二醇浓度变化平行的最明显颜色变化的底物。一种预测“繁殖准备情况”的现场测试的开发和商业化立即应用于马匹行业。此外，在建立马匹市场后，预计将对试剂盒进行修改，以应用于其他物种。拟议的商业应用：第一个应用将在价值253亿美元的马匹行业。准确预测排卵的能力将大大提高养殖场的效率，最大限度地挖掘市场潜力。对该测试进行修改以用于包括人类在内的其他物种，将进一步提高其市场价值。

The steroid hormone, estradiol (E2), synthesized by and secreted from the ovaries is an accurate index of the time of ovulation in mammals. The ability to accurately predict the time of ovulation greatly enhances the efficiency and, therefore, profitability of commercial breeding farms. Currently, veterinarians and breeding farm managers must submit samples to a diagnostic laboratory to determine estradiol concentrations. This process is expensive, inefficient and requires elaborate detection systems. The studies proposed are designed to develop and validate a rapid, on-site colorimetric test for the determination of estradiol levels in biological fluids. The on-site test will be designed in such a way to yield a three stage color development where low E2 concentrations will result in an intense color change, moderate E2 concentrations will result in modest, but discernable, color change and high E2 concentrations will produce no color change. Two approaches for the assay, namely a solid-phase and a liquid phase, will be tested. Each approach will utilize several substrates to determine that substrate which yields the most distinguishable changes in color in parallel to changes in E2 concentrations. Development and commercialization of an on-side test to predict "breeding readiness" has immediate applications to the horse industry. Furthermore, after establishment of the equine market, modification of the kit for application to other species is envisioned. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: First application will be in the $25.3 billion horse industry. The ability to accurately predict ovulation will greatly enhance efficiency and maximize the market potential of breeding farms. Modification of the test for use in other species, including humans, will further enhance its market value.