P. Ipsilantis, Th. Τsiligiani, Α. Κaragianidis

In this study the method of cytological examination of vaginal smears (CEVS) was used for determining the stages of domestic rabbit's oestrus cycle. Ten female white New Zeaand rabbits were studied, on a daily basis, for 43 days. Vaginal mucosa cells were classified into 4 types: parabasal, small small intermediate, large intermediate and superficial cals. It was found that rabbit oestrus cycle can be divided, on the basis of CEVS, into periods of increased and periods of decreased superficial ce proportion, which succeed one another and last 1-2 and 2-3 days, respectively. In specific, the percentages of all cell types were, during the period of increased superficial cell proportion, parabasal 6,8±3,7%, small intermediates 26,0±7,0%, large intermediates 10,1±4,6% and superficialss 57,0±3,8%, while during the period of decreased superficial cell proportion, 11,7±11,2, 51,4±6,3%, 12,7±8,9% and 24,2±4,7%, respectively.