Reproductive studies unit of the New York Zoological Society

Stover, Janet; Westrom, W. K.

doi:10.1002/zoo.1430030407

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 7 publications

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“…Consideration has been given in recent years to applying the newer technologies in domestic animal breeding towards improving the fecundity of endangered exotic species (Durrant & Benirschke, 1981;Stover & Westrom, 1984). Embryo transfer is one such technique, although two major obstacles limit its application to exotic species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Successful transfer of the embryos of Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) and Grant's zebra (E. burchelli) to domestic mares (E. caballus)

Summers¹,

Shephard²,

Hodges³

et al. 1987

Reproduction

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Blastocysts were collected non-surgically from 2 Przewalski's horse and 2 Grant's zebra mares and transferred extra-specifically to domestic horse and donkey recipients. Nine Przewalski's horse embryos were transferred surgically, and 2 non-surgically, to domestic Welsh-type pony mares. After surgical transfer, 7 (77.8%) pregnancies were established and 4 foals were born. Twelve Grant's zebra embryos were transferred surgically to 5 pony and 7 domestic donkey recipients respectively and 1 non-surgically to a donkey; 3 (60%) zebra-in-horse pregnancies were established and 2 went to term. Only 2 (28.6%) zebra-in-donkey pregnancies were established but neither went to term, although one zebra foal was aborted alive at Day 292 but failed to survive. No pregnancies resulted from the non-surgical transfers. Measurement of chorionic gonadotrophin concentrations and parental-specific lymphocytotoxic antibodies in the serum of the recipient animals indicated a pronounced maternal immunological response to the extra-specific embryo, but this could not be correlated with success or failure of pregnancy. The results indicate that extra-specific embryo transfer may be a useful aid to breeding exotic equids in captivity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Successful transfer of the embryos of Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) and Grant's zebra (E. burchelli) to domestic mares (E. caballus)

Summers¹,

Shephard²,

Hodges³

et al. 1987

Reproduction

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Penetration of zona‐free hamster ova by Siberian tiger sperm

et al. 1987

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Sperm from the electroejaculate of captive Siberian tigers (Punthem tigris ultuicu) penetrated zona pellucida-free hamster ova in vitro, evidenced by a decondensation reaction. This assay, when used in conjunction with semen analysis, may be useful in assessing the fertility potential of males of this and other related felids. Such information is an important step in developing successful long-term management strategies for captive and wild populations of this severely endangered species. Key words: sperm penetration assay, reproduction, Siberian tigers, conservation INTRODUCTIONThe zona-free hamster ovum sperm penetration assay (SPA) is the only routine diagnostic method available for evaluating human sperm function; the SPA in conjunction with sperm concentration, morphology, viability, lateral head displacement, and forward progression can be used to predict human male fertility with a high degree of confidence [Margalioth et al, 1983; Rogers et al, 1983; Aitken, 19841. The SPA has been used to evaluate sperm of several domestic species [Yanagimachi, 1972; Imai et d, 1977; Lorton and First, 19791, as well as one species of cetacean [Fleming, 19811. Although there are records of in vitro fertilization in the domestic feline [Hamner et al, 1970; Bowen, 1977; Niwa et al, 19851, the SPA has not previously been used to evaluate feline sperm. Here we report that sperm from captive Siberian tigers is capable of penetrating zona-free hamster ova and suggest how the assay might be utilized in developing long-term management strategies for both captive and free-ranging tiger populations.Received for publication December 13, 1985; accepted September 12, 1986. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe three electroejaculates used in this study were collected from tigers at the Minnesota Zoo during their 1985 breeding season [Seal et al, 19851. Within 2-3 hr after ejaculation, count and motility were evaluated, and the SPA was performed.The SPA was carried out by a modification of the method of Yanagimachi and colleagues [1976]. The tiger ejaculate was diluted 1: 1 with Biggers, Whitten, and Whittingham's medium (BWW) [Biggers et al, 19711 containing 3 mg/ml bovine serum albumin and centrifuged for 10 min at 300 x G . All but 0.5 ml of the supernatant was removed, and the pellet was resuspended in the remaining liquid, to concentrate the sperm to 50-80 x 106/ml, and incubated until use. Tiger semen samples obtained earlier and incubated for 18 hr (the incubation period used for human samples) at 37°C showed a loss of motility, dropping from 70% to 0%. Therefore, preincubation times were shortened to approximately 2 hr.Mature golden hamsters were superovulated with 40 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin injected IP on the morning of post-estrus when sticky, vaginal discharge is obvious, and 25 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) 55 hr later. Eighteen hours after HCG, the animals were sacrificed, and their oviducts excised. Under a dissecting microscope the cumulus masses were released by pricking the distended portion of the oviduct...

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Spermaquantität und-qualität eines Muffelwidders (Ovis ammon musimon, Pallas 1811) im Jahresverlauf

Sackmann¹,

Schöne

1990

Zeitschrift für Jagdwissenschaft

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Reproductive studies unit of the New York Zoological Society

Cited by 4 publications

References 7 publications

Successful transfer of the embryos of Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) and Grant's zebra (E. burchelli) to domestic mares (E. caballus)

Successful transfer of the embryos of Przewalski's horses (Equus przewalskii) and Grant's zebra (E. burchelli) to domestic mares (E. caballus)

Penetration of zona‐free hamster ova by Siberian tiger sperm

Spermaquantität und-qualität eines Muffelwidders (Ovis ammon musimon, Pallas 1811) im Jahresverlauf

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