Abstract
Vaginal mucous discharge and cell components were examined twice a day throughout the gestation period in the Chinese hamster. On the following day of copulation, day 0 of pregnancy, plug in vagina and sperms in the smear were clearly observed. Populations of exfoliated cells represented the diestrous stage if the females conceived after copulation. In case of pseudopregnancy, the proestrous stage reappeared on day 11 following copulation. On day 7 of pregnancy, aqueous mucin-like vaginal discharge was found in 10.8 % cases and was found in 82.6 % cases on day 11 of pregnancy. Hemorrhagic mucous discharge was observed in 19.5 % of pregnant animals on day 12 of pregnancy and in 89.1 % on day 14. This hemorrhagic mucous discharge lasting for 2 or 4 days was followed by the sticky mucin in most cases. An increase of maternal body weight was noted from day 9 or 10 of pregnancy onward. Pregnancy in the Chinese hamster can be diagnosed as early as day 10 following copulation by examining the vaginal mucous discharge, cell components of vaginal smear and the maternal body weight gain.
