Female Reproductive Cycles in Commonly Used Laboratory Animals

Estrous cycle length, d

4–5

4–5

16

Estrus duration, h

10–20

10–20

6–11

Estrus onset to ovulation, h

8–11

2–3

10

Fertilization life of ovum, h

10–15

15

8–26

Fertilization life of sperm in female tract, h

14

6

20–22

Presence of copulatory plug in female tract, h

12–24

18–48

9–18

Ovulation rate (number of eggs)

10–20

6–10

3–4

Pseudopregnancy, d

12

12

NA^a