Advances in reproduction in captive, female great apes: Value of biotechniques

Abstract

Most of the progress in female great ape reproduction has focused on monitoring ovarian and endocrine activity. Perhaps of more importance has been the gradually evolving interest and willingness to consider biotechnology as a potential, viable approach for enhancing reproductive performance. Artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and embryo transfer offer an array of possibilities for combating infertility and understanding the fundamental differences and similarities among great ape species. Multidisciplinary efforts have assessed reproductive competence, from the simple k e . , perineal tumescence and urinary occult blood in chimpanzees) to the complex (i.e., ovum recovery and IVF following exogenous hormone treatment in chimpanzees and gorillas). Hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy have been used to determine uterotubal patency and to identify pathological conditions in gorillas. Assays for steroid metabolites in serial urine samples, to permit accurate assessments of ovarian cyclicity, have been developed and validated for all great apes species. Stimulation of follicular recruitment and maturation has been achieved following administration of clomiphene citrate (chimpanzees and gorillas) and human menopausal gonadotropin (gorillas). Clomiphene citrate and human chorionic gonadotropin have been used to regulate ovulation for the A1 of chimpanzees. Pregnancies have resulted in chimpanzees and gorillas following A1 using fresh and cryopreservedlthawed semen; however, conception rates vary. Embryos have been nonsurgically recovered from chimpanzees after timed matings and follicular oocytes have been recovered from chimpanzees and gorillas by transabdominal laparoscopy after exogenous hormone treatment. To date, although in vivo matured ova have been fertilized in vitro using homologous sperm in chimpanzees and gorillas, no great ape offspring have been born from transferred embryos produced by in vitro or in vivo fertilization. A review of the many remaining problems suggests the need for more basic studies of ovulation induction, ovum and sperm requirements in vivo and in vitro,

Sexual and Hormonal Cycles in Geriatric Gorilla gorilla gorilla

“…Like other nonhuman primates, gorillas demonstrate an obvious behavioral estrus, but, unlike chimpanzees and bonobos, the labial swellings associated with reproduction are extremely subtle (Furuichi, 1987;Graham, 1981), and may play less of a role in reproductive behavior (Harcourt et al, 1980). Moreover, gorillas and humans display physiological similarities in monthly fluctuations of reproductive hormones (Graham, 1981;Loskutoff et al, 1991), though Loskutoff and coworkers also noted a double follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) peak in gorillas, compared to the single peak in humans. Finally, in contrast to female chimpanzees and orangutans which are often alone or only with offspring, gorilla females, like human females, are habitually in close social group contact with a breeding male (Watts, 1991).…”

Effects of hand‐rearing on the reproductive success of western lowland gorillas in North America

“…oer, 1983;Graham et al, 1991;Nadler and Collins, 1991;Loskutoff et al, 1991], and diet [Baer et al, 1989]. In some cases these may caused by not only one factor but by multiple factors.…”

“…The variation in breeding success of HR individuals is further affected by factors not associated with rearing, such as the housing environment [MillerSchroeder and Paterson, 1989;Nadler, 1982;Nadler and Collins, 1984], the lack of mate access [Wharton, 1995], partner incompatibility [Beck, 1982;Harcourt, 1978Harcourt, , 1987Maple and Hoff, 1982], group instability, stress [Ogden et al, 1989, as cited in Loskutoff et al, 1991], medical problems [Gould, 1983;Reichard et al, 1990;B . oer, 1983;Graham et al, 1991;Nadler and Collins, 1991;Loskutoff et al, 1991], and diet [Baer et al, 1989].…”

Ovarian stimulation, in vitro fertilization, and effects of culture conditions on baboon preimplantation embryo development

“…Assisted reproductive technologies have been applied in several NHP species, including rhesus monkeys (2, 5-7, 13, 20-70), cynomolgus monkeys (71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78), African green monkeys (vervet) (71,79,80), squirrel monkeys (81)(82)(83)(84)(85)(86)(87)(88), marmosets (89)(90)(91)(92)(93), great apes (94), and baboons (1,19,84,(95)(96)(97)(98)(99)(100)(101)(102). Various levels of success in these species indicated the fundamental differences in gametogenesis, preimplantation embryo development, and nutrition requirement for optimal in vitro embryo development (103,104).…”