title: Reproductive physiology and artificial insemination studies in wild and captive gerenuk ( Litocranius walleri walleri ).
abstract: Gerenuk antelope in North American zoos are descended from 28 founders imported from Kenya approximately 20 years ago. Intensive management is required to prevent inbreeding depression. Artificial insemination has potential for augmenting genetic management, but successful application requires a thorough understanding of species' reproductive norms. Semen collected from captive (n = 10) and wild (n = 6) gerenuk contained low numbers of morphologically normal spermatozoa (approximately 40%). Age, but not season, influenced (P < 0.05) the proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa (mean +/- s.e.m., 12-17 months of age, 10.3 +/- 1.9%; 18-26 months of age, 34.4 +/- 6.2%; 3-6 years of age, 40.0 +/- 4.7%). Seasonality was investigated by analysing faecal testosterone and progesterone in males and females, respectively, by radioimmunoassays. Females cycled all year (ovarian cycle length, 18.7 +/- 0.9 days). Testosterone in males did not vary (P > 0.05) with time of year. Three females (3/9, 33%) became pregnant by insemination with 9.75-54.0 x 0(6) motile fresh or frozen sperm after oestrus synchronisation with two prostaglandin F(2alpha) injections, 12 days apart. One female inseminated with frozen-thawed sperm delivered a full-term stillborn calf after 213 days gestation. These results characterise gerenuk reproductive norms and indicate that artificial insemination may be a useful tool in the genetic management of gerenuk.
authors.affiliation: White Oak Conservation Center, Yulee, FL 32097, USA. lindap@wogilman.com
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Penfold
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: L Monfort
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.forename: Scott B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Citino
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wildt
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D000866:Antelopes; D001947:Breeding / Q000379:methods*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011374:Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000662:veterinary; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone