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Dos Santos RP, Silva AR. Sperm Cooling as an Assisted Reproduction Tool for Wildlife: An Underrated Technology. Biopreserv Biobank 2023; 21:388-396. [PMID: 35856795 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2022.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for assisted reproduction techniques applied to the conservation and even the genetic improvement of wild species is becoming increasingly common. Regarding conservation of male gametes from wild animals, although current advances are focused on cryopreservation, the development of protocols for sperm refrigeration seems to be underrated, despite its various advantages and applications. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the importance of short-term conservation of sperm from wild mammals, report the development of state-of-the-art refrigeration protocols for both ejaculated and epididymal sperm, and evaluate the challenges and prospects of their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romário Parente Dos Santos
- Laboratory for Animal Germplasm Conservation, Department of Animal Sciences, Federal University of the Semiarid Region, Mossoró, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Rodrigues Silva
- Laboratory for Animal Germplasm Conservation, Department of Animal Sciences, Federal University of the Semiarid Region, Mossoró, Brazil
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Thongphakdee A, Kiatsomboon S, Noimoon S, Kongprom U, Boonorana I, Karoon S, Thawnern J, Sakulthai A, Sombutputorn P, Sukmak M, Punkong C, Thongtip N. Semen characteristics and second successful artificial insemination of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Thailand. Vet World 2022; 15:1246-1255. [PMID: 35765477 PMCID: PMC9210840 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2022.1246-1255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: As the number of wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) continues to decline, maintaining healthy populations under human care is vital. Male fertility assessment is essential for understanding the reproductive status, which can help to uncover underlying problems and improve the rate of pregnancy success. The objectives of this study in Asian elephants were as follows: (1) To investigate the semen characteristics; (2) to compare the relative seminal vesicle size and semen characteristics; (3) to compare the semen characteristics between good-motile (>60% progressive motility) and poor-motile (<60% progressive motility) ejaculates; and (4) to investigate the pregnancy success rate after artificial insemination (AI) with combined chilled and frozen semen. Materials and Methods: In total, 153 ejaculates were collected by manual rectal stimulation from 25 bulls. The volume, pH, sperm concentration, progressive motility, viability, morphology, and membrane integrity were investigated in each ejaculate. Assessment of accessory sex glands was conducted using transrectal ultrasonography to compare the relative seminal vesicle size and semen characteristics, and the bulls were divided into two groups according to the size of the ampulla (<7 or ≥7 cm2). For the comparison of good and poor-motile ejaculates and semen characteristics, the samples were divided into two groups: Good-motile (>60% progressive motility) and poor-motile (<60% progressive motility) ejaculates. Semen ejaculates for AI were collected from three bulls. The estrous cycles of four females were monitored using an enzyme immunoassay. Seven AI attempts were conducted using frozen and/or chilled semen by endoscopic visualization. AI was repeated 1 day before the luteinizing hormone surge, on the day of the surge, and 1 day after the surge. Pregnancy was confirmed by monitoring the serum progesterone profile and the abdomen and mammary glands changes. Results: From 153 ejaculates, the mean±standard error values of progressive motility, semen volume, sperm concentration, pH, and viability were 40.18%±2.28%, 40.94±3.86 mL, 1,205.58±62.26×106 sperm/mL, 7.50±0.10, and 56.17%±1.96%, respectively. Comparing ampulla size and semen characteristics revealed that the bulls with ampullae of ≥7 cm2 yielded significantly larger volume ejaculates. However, there were no significant differences in sperm motility and concentration. The comparison of semen characteristics between good- and poor-motile ejaculates revealed that the former had significantly higher pH, viability, normal acrosomes, intact membranes, and normal head and tail morphology but often had a significantly lower volume and sperm concentration. From seven AI attempts in four females, one female had a confirmed pregnancy (14.3% pregnancy rate), and delivered a healthy live female baby weighing 128 kg at 21 months and 12 days of gestation. The baby is now 3 years old and in a healthy condition, with normally developing growth and behavior. Conclusion: The semen characteristics of Asian elephants can be used as the baseline reference for further applications. The ampullae size indicates semen quantity but not quality. Our success in producing an elephant calf from AI using frozen and chilled semen demonstrated that AI can be used as an alternative approach for the breeding management of Asian elephants. However, the semen of Asian elephants is of poor quality, especially in terms of membrane integrity; thus, the improvement in semen quality through intensive and careful management of elephant health and fertility remains a challenge for the future. Furthermore, a sperm bank should be established to develop sperm cryopreservation, which will be invaluable for improving the genetic diversity of the Asian elephant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ampika Thongphakdee
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Supalak Kiatsomboon
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Sakhon Noimoon
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Urarikha Kongprom
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Itti Boonorana
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Santhita Karoon
- Wildlife Reproductive Innovation Center, Conservation and Research Institute, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Jedsada Thawnern
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Apichaya Sakulthai
- Department of Farm Technology Management, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Panyapiwat Institute of Management, Nonthaburi 11120, Thailand
| | | | - Manakorn Sukmak
- Department of Farm Resources and Production Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
| | - Chainarong Punkong
- Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Zoological Park Organization of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the King, Chonburi 20110, Thailand
| | - Nikorn Thongtip
- Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand; Center of Excellence on Agricultural Biotechnology, Science and Technology Postgraduate Education and Research Department Commission on Higher Education, Ministry of Education (AG-BIO/PERDO-CHE), Bangkok 10903, Thailand; Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand
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Luther I, Maree L, Kotze A, Hildebrandt T, Göritz F, Hermes R, van der Horst G. Sperm motility, kinematics, morphometry and morphology over two seasons in free-ranging African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 32:425-438. [PMID: 31972123 DOI: 10.1071/rd19182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to address the lack of information on quantitative semen and sperm characteristics of free-ranging African elephants. Nineteen ejaculates were collected from 12 elephant bulls by means of electroejaculation in spring (Season 1, end of dry season, n=7) and in autumn (Season 2, end of rainy season, n=12). While most elephant cows are in oestrus in the rainy season, it is not evident whether sperm quality also improves during this period. Semen samples were assessed using computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), brightfield microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Seasonal differences and individual variation in sperm quality of bulls were apparent, with ejaculates collected during Season 2 revealing higher percentages for total motility, progressive motility, rapid-swimming spermatozoa and kinematic parameters compared with Season 1 (P<0.05). Although normal sperm morphology percentage was similar over the two seasons, more sperm tail defects were found in Season 2 (P<0.05). The baseline reference data and multivariate sperm parameter associations reported in this study can be used to predict elephant bull sperm quality and potential to fertilise. It is clear that CASA can detect subtle differences in sperm quality of African elephant ejaculates and should be the approach for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Luther
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; and National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; and GEOsperm, Wildlife Reproduction and Biotechnology, PO Box 3300, Brits, 0250, South Africa
| | - Liana Maree
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; and National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotze
- National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; and Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Thomas Hildebrandt
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Göritz
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Hermes
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerhard van der Horst
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa; and National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa; and Corresponding author.
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Lueders I, Allen WRT. Managed wildlife breeding-an undervalued conservation tool? Theriogenology 2020; 150:48-54. [PMID: 32088045 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of and the technologies and resources applied to the ex situ care for wildlife have improved greatly in recent years. This has resulted in numerous successes bringing back populations from the brink of extinction by the reintroduction or restoration of animals from conservation breeding programmes. Controlled breeding of wildlife by humans is discussed controversially in society and in scientific circles and it faces a number of significant challenges. When natural breeding fails, Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) have been postulated to increase reproductive output and maintain genetic diversity. Furthermore, technical advances have improved the potential for successful collection and cryopreservation of gametes and embryos in many wildlife species. With the aim of creating a better understanding of why ex situ and in situ conservation of threatened species must complement each other, and under which circumstances ART provide additional tools in the rescue of a threatened population, we elucidate the current situation here by using as examples three different megavertebrate families: elephantidae, rhinoceridae and giraffidae. These mammal families consist of charismatic species, and most of their members are currently facing dramatic declines in population numbers. On the basis of these and other examples, we highlight the importance of captive zoo and other managed wildlife populations for species survival in a human dominated world. Without the possibility to study reproductive physiology in trained or habituated captive individuals, major advances made in wildlife ART during the past 20 years would not have been possible. This paper reviews the benefits and future challenges of large mammal conservation breeding and examines the role of assisted reproduction in such efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imke Lueders
- GEOlifes Animal Fertility and Reproductive Research, 22457, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - W R Twink Allen
- Sharjah Equine Hospital, P.O. Box, 29858, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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