1. Non-surgical artificial insemination using a GnRH analogue for ovulation induction during natural oestrus in African lions (Panthera leo)
- Author
-
Isabel Callealta, Martin Malan, Imke Lueders, and Andre Ganswindt
- Subjects
Lions ,Male ,Pregnancy Rate ,media_common.quotation_subject ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Zoology ,Insemination ,Electroejaculation ,Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Food Animals ,Estrus ,Ovulation Induction ,Pregnancy ,biology.animal ,medicine ,Animals ,Small Animals ,Ovulation ,Insemination, Artificial ,media_common ,Wildlife conservation ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,biology ,Equine ,Artificial insemination ,0402 animal and dairy science ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,040201 dairy & animal science ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Ovulation induction ,Female ,Panthera ,Reproduction - Abstract
Despite postulated potential for wildlife conservation, success of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) in ex-situ feline breeding remains25%. The aim of this project was to develop a simplified, non-surgical artificial insemination (AI) protocol for African lions (Panthera leo), using an exogenous GnRH analogue to induce ovulation in females presenting natural oestrus, and minimizing manipulation of the animals. Four protocols were tested in five trained lionesses (3.5-8 years), for a total of 14 inseminations (2-4 per lioness). These protocols differed in the time lapse between GnRH injection and insemination, on days 4, 5, or 6 from onset of natural oestrus, determined by daily behavioural observation and vaginal cytology. Semen was collected from 8 different males by urethral catheterization and electro-ejaculation, during full anaesthesia. Females were immediately immobilized for AI after semen collection. After transrectal ultrasound examination of the reproductive tract, insemination was performed either intravaginal or transcervical using a commercial dog urinary catheter (2.0 × 500 mm, Buster
- Published
- 2019