A RAPID, ON-SITE, TEST FOR OVULATION PREDICTION

类固醇激素，雌二醇（E2），由卵巢合成和分泌，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和盈利能力。目前，兽医和养殖场管理人员必须将样本提交给诊断实验室，以确定雌二醇浓度。这个过程是昂贵的，低效的，需要复杂的检测系统。拟议的研究旨在开发和验证一种快速，现场比色法测定生物体液中的雌二醇水平。现场试验的设计将产生三阶段显色，其中低E2浓度将导致强烈的颜色变化，中等E2浓度将导致适度但可辨别的颜色变化，高E2浓度将不会产生颜色变化。将测试两种测定方法，即固相和液相。 每种方法将利用几种底物来确定产生与E2浓度变化平行的最可区分的颜色变化的底物。 开发和商业化的现场测试，以预测“育种准备”有立即应用于马业。此外，在马市场建立后，设想修改试剂盒以应用于其他物种。拟议的商业应用：第一个应用将在253亿美元的马产业。准确预测排卵的能力将大大提高效率，最大限度地发挥养殖场的市场潜力。 将该检测方法修改用于其他物种，包括人类，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.