(Camelus dromedarius) during seasonal anoestrus

The one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) is a seasonal breeder with a relatively short breeding period, when increased ovarian activity is exhibited (Shalash, 1965,1980; Nawito, Shalash, Hoppe ¿St Rakha, 1967 ; Novoa, 1970). In Israel, the normal breeding season occurs from December to early April. Female camels come into heat during this period and exhibit mainly follicular activity; there is no cyclic luteal phase (Nawito et ai, 1967; Musa & Abusineina, 1978b; Shalash, 1980; Elias, Bedrak & Yagil, 1984a). The follicular wave covers the period of time between the acceptance of the male by the female, with the associated changes in the ovaries, and her reacceptance of the male, indicating the start of a new wave (Nawito et ai, 1967; Shalash, 1980). Nawito et ai (1967) divided the follicular wave into the (a) mature follicular stage; (b) atretic follicular stage; (c) non follicular stage; and (d) growing follicular stage. Ovulation in the camel does not occur spontaneously, as in the cow, ewe or goat, and the copulatory stimulus for its induction is indispensable (Nawito et ai, 1967; Novoa, 1970; Shalash, 1980; Elias et ai, 1984a). Studies of the reproductive endocrine cycle of the male camel in Israel (Bodenheimer, 1954; Yagil & Etzion, 1980; Bedrak, Rosenstrauch, Kafka & Friedländer, 1983) have shown that the male has pronounced sexual activity from December to March or April, as indicated by hormonal and behavioural changes. In the non-breeding season there is reduced testicular activity (Sharma, 1981 ; Bedrak et ai, 1983; Friedländer, Rosenstrauch & Bedrak, 1984) associated with decreased