Collection of semen by manual stimulation and ejaculate characteristics of the black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20169.abs Semen collection and preservation is the first step toward the development of an artificial insemination program in endangered Pteropus spp. Semen was collected by manual stimulation from a single “human-habituated” P. alecto. Manual stimulation resulted in the successful collection of motile spermatozoa on 17 of 34 attempts. The semen had a pH of […]
Effect of progestins on serum hormones, semen production, and agonistic behavior in the gerenuk (Litocranius walleri walleri)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20133.abs The use of progestins to suppress endogenous testosterone production to reduce agonistic behavior and prevent semen production was studied in gerenuk. Five male gerenuk (20 months to 3 years of age), housed as a bachelor group, were treated with 3 monthly injections of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA; 2.5–20 mg/kg), followed by a melengestrol acetate implant […]
Seminal and endocrine characteristics of male Pallas’ Cats (Otocolobus manul) maintained under artificial lighting with simulated natural photoperiods
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20127.abs Pallas’ cats (Otocolobus manul) have a pronounced reproductive seasonality controlled by photoperiod. Previous studies of reproduction in captive Pallas’ cats exposed to natural light showed a breeding season of December–April. This study evaluated the impact of artificial lighting timed to simulate natural photoperiods on male reproductive seasonality of four Pallas’ cats housed indoors. […]
Semen collection and evaluation in free-ranging Brazilian rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrificus)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20126.abs Two hundred-ninety species of reptiles are estimated to need urgent action for conservation, with at least 113 threatened species worldwide. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species includes 80 species of snakes, with six native Brazilian species, a number likely to be an underestimation. […]
Effect of egg-phosphatidylcholine on the chilling sensitivity and lipid phase transition of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) spermatozoa
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20045.abs This study was conducted in an effort to improve our understanding of the response of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus, Em) spermatozoa to chilling. Semen was collected from two elephant bulls by means of the manual rectal stimulation method. Five out of seven semen collections were deemed to be suitable for use based on […]
Applied reproductive technologies and genetic resource banking for amphibian conservation
As amphibian populations continue to decline, both government and non-government organisations are establishing captive assurance colonies to secure populations deemed at risk of extinction if left in the wild. For the most part, little is known about the nutritional ecology, reproductive biology or husbandry needs of the animals placed into captive breeding programs. Because of […]
Case studies in antelope aggression control using a GnRH agonist
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.10079.abs Maintaining surplus captive male antelope in bachelor groups can result in aggression in some species, leading to injury or death. Suppressing endogenous testosterone using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs has been used in primates to control aggressive behavior, but little information is available on the use of GnRH analogs in nondomestic ruminant species. The […]
Electroejaculation and semen analysis in the La Plata three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.10053.abs The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop an electroejaculation procedure for collecting semen from the La Plata three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus), and 2) characterize basal reproductive traits, including sperm concentration, motility, morphology, acrosomal status, and viability. Three male armadillos were each electroejaculated on one to five occasions. Fluid containing spermatozoa was […]
A postcryogenic comparison of membrane fatty acids of elephant spermatozoa
Abstract 10.1002/1098-2361(2000)19:53.3.CO;2-O Cryogenic protocols have been successful in storing spermatozoa collected from African elephants (Loxodonta africana). However, these same protocols and modifications of these protocols have failed to preserve spermatozoa collected from Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) [Buice et al., 1995, Proceedings of the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians, Baltimore, MD; O’Brien et al., 1997, Second […]
Cryopreservation of houbara semen: A pilot study
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1999)18:23.3.CO;2-Z The potential of producing viable houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata undulata progeny with cryopreserved semen was investigated during the 1998 breeding season. Houbara semen was diluted and rapidly frozen into pellet form in LN2 using dimethylacetamide (DMA) as a cryoprotectant. Thawed semen exhibited 24.86± 10.61% recovery of fresh sperm motility levels and 36.44±16.17% of […]