This two year project focusses on the development of assays to allow accurate measurement of steroid hormone excretion in the feces of nonhuman primates. Laboratory primates will be injected with radiolabeled estrogen and progesterone and the major fecal radiolabeled metabolites will be isolated and identified. Subsequently assays will be established for the measurement of major estrogen and progesterone fecal metabolites. In the second part of this study, animals will be injected with radiolabeled aldosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone, fecal metabolites identified and assays developed. These latter will hopefully serve as indexers which will permit fecal ovarian steroid profiles which accurately reflect ovarian steroid output. Application of these techniques will allow primatologists to address directly issues concerning the reproductive physiology and behavior of primates under field conditions.
