Topical application of steroid hormones and vaginocervical stimulation to induce maternal behavior of animals
First Claim
1. A process of artificially inducing a non-pregnant, non-human female animal to act as a foster mother using a non-invasive method which comprises:
- (i) inserting a first hormone impregnated intravaginal sponge into the vagina of an animal, wherein the first hormone impregnated sponge comprises at least one steroid hormone;
(ii) removing the first hormone impregnated sponge and inserting a second hormone impregnated sponge into the vagina of the animal from step (i), wherein the second hormone impregnated sponge comprises at least one steroid hormone; and
(iii) vaginally and cervically stimulating the animal;
wherein the first and second sponges are inserted for a period of time sufficient to induce lactation and so that the stimulation of step (iii) causes induction of maternal behavior.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a process of artificially inducing a non-pregnant, non-human female animal to act as a foster mother using a non-invasive method which comprises administering a topical application of at least one steroid hormone to the animal for a period of time sufficient that uptake of hormone by the animal acts both (i) to stimulate lactation and (ii) to prime the animal for vaginal and cervical stimulation so that such stimulation causes induction of maternal behavior. The hormone may be selected from either progestogen or oestrogen or a mixture of the two, and may be applied to the animal via an intra-vaginal sponge by a method comprising the steps of inserting a first hormone impregnated sponge into the vagina of a non-pregnant animal for about two to three weeks; removing the first sponge and replacing it with a second hormone impregnated sponge for a further period of time of about two to four weeks. Maternal behavior is induced by vaginal and cervical stimulation.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A process of artificially inducing a non-pregnant, non-human female animal to act as a foster mother using a non-invasive method which comprises:
-
(i) inserting a first hormone impregnated intravaginal sponge into the vagina of an animal, wherein the first hormone impregnated sponge comprises at least one steroid hormone; (ii) removing the first hormone impregnated sponge and inserting a second hormone impregnated sponge into the vagina of the animal from step (i), wherein the second hormone impregnated sponge comprises at least one steroid hormone; and (iii) vaginally and cervically stimulating the animal;
wherein the first and second sponges are inserted for a period of time sufficient to induce lactation and so that the stimulation of step (iii) causes induction of maternal behavior. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification