Strategies for Ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval in the lowland gorilla

Ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval were performed in a lowland gorilla in an attempt to propagate and potentially cryopreserve embryos from an infertile animal and to advance techniques to help preserve this endangered species. Following 34 days of leuprolide acetate suppression, human menopau...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 1997-02, Vol.14 (2), p.102-110
Main Authors: HATASAKA, H. H, SCHAFFER, N. E, CHENETTE, P. E, KOWALSKI, W, HECHT, B. R, MEEHAN, T. P, WENTZ, A. C, VALLE, R. F, CHATTERTON, R. T, JEYENDRAN, R. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Experimentation
Animal productions
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Cryopreservation
Embryo, Mammalian
Estradiol - blood
Female
Fertility Agents, Female - therapeutic use
Fertilization in Vitro
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - agonists
Gorilla gorilla
Leuprolide - therapeutic use
Menotropins - therapeutic use
Oocytes
Ovulation Induction - methods
Superovulation - blood
Superovulation - drug effects
Terrestrial animal productions
Vertebrates
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ovulation induction and oocyte retrieval were performed in a lowland gorilla in an attempt to propagate and potentially cryopreserve embryos from an infertile animal and to advance techniques to help preserve this endangered species. Following 34 days of leuprolide acetate suppression, human menopausal gonadotropins were administered for 14-days in a 32-year-old wild-born lowland gorilla. Ten oocytes were retrieved by transrectal ultrasound-guided aspiration. Other approaches to oocyte recovery were not feasible in this case. A serum estradiol concentration of 4700 pg/ml at the time of human chorionic gonadotropin administration did not induce ovarian hyperstimulation. Mature oocytes were recovered from follicles measuring 14 to 24 mm in diameter, with a corresponding average serum estradiol concentration of approximately 300 pg/ml for each mature follicle. Cryopreservation of a gorilla embryo was effected from cryopreserved gorilla spermatozoa. Parameters for monitoring ovulation induction in the gorilla appear to be similar to those for humans. The results indicate that the use of a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and higher doses of gonadotropins than previously used in gorillas appear to improve oocyte recovery.
ISSN:1058-0468
1573-7330
DOI:10.1007/bf02765779