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Altering Reproductive Processes

Animal Breeding

Pensacola Jr College

Altering Reproduction - Methods

w   Estrus synchronization

w   Superovulation

w   In-vitro fertilization

w   Embryo transfer

w   Induced parturition

w   Contraception

w   Biotechnology

Estrus Synchronization

w   Manipulate estrous cycles in a group of females

w   Make stages occur at uniform time in all individuals

w   Why?

•    Ease of AI in large groups

•    Offset calving in subgroups

•    Donor-recipient estrus timing in embryo transfer

Estrus Synchronization - Methods

w   Exogenous progesterone, then single progesterone + estrogen injection

w   One prostaglandin injection

w   Inject GnRH, then prostaglandin, then GnRH

w   PMSG injections

Progesterone Implant,
P + E injection system

P Implant injection (ear)

CSU Synchronization Protocols

AI with synchronized estrus

Superovulation

w   Artificial induction of ovulation of more than normal number of eggs for the species

w   Why?

•    More eggs for IVF or embryo transfer

•    Increasing reproductive potential

Superovulation - Methods

w   Large dosages and frequencies of FSH injections, sometimes with prostaglandin at the end

w   Single large injected dose of PMSG in some species

Superovulation – Egg Collection

w   Laparoscopic collection

•    Flush uterine contents out through infundibulum

w   Non-surgical collection

•    Foley catheter with inflatable cuff seals off uterus

•    Flush fluids into uterus and back out with egg cells

Egg Aspiration

Foley Catheter

Demo use of Foley catheter

Demo use of Foley catheter

In-Vitro Fertilization

w   Fertilization outside the body (i.e. “test tube babies”)

w   Why?

•    Increase reproductive potential

•    Reproduction of females with blocked oviducts

•    Embryo transfer

•    Genetic manipulation

IVF – Method (steps)

w   Collect sperm and culture with GAG heparin

w   Collect ovulated or preovulatory eggs in appropriate medium

w   Incubate sperm and eggs together

w   Use special medium to get past 2-cell block, to blastula

IVF preparations

IVF

IVF Embryo

Embryo Transfer

w   Implant embryos developed from IVF of one individual into another

w   Why?

•    Increase reproductive potential

•    Move embryos instead of adults (and may implant in other species)

•    Use of infertile animals

Embryo Transfer needs

w   Embryo evaluation:

•    Morula or early blastula stage

•    Compact

•    Spherical

•    Normal size and stage

•    Zona pellucida even

w   Recipient:

•    Healthy and synchronized

•    Well-formed CL

Embryo Storage for transfer

w   Appropriate medium changed frequently

w   Can be kept at room temperature for hours

w   Can be kept at cool temperature for days

w   Freezing in liquid nitrogen reduces pregnancy rate

Embryo Transfer - Problems

w   Excessive number of implantations (due to more than normal # of embryos transferred)

•    Low birth weights

•    Spontaneous abortions

•    Retained placentas

•    Stress on mother

•    Insufficient lactation

Embryo Grading for Transfer – Day 3 embryos

Grade 4 (best, no fragmenting)

Grade 3

Grade 2

Grade 1

Grade 0

Blastocyst for transfer

Frozen Embryo Zoo

Interspecies E.T.

Induced Parturition

w   Artificial induction of labor / birth

w   Why?

•    Overdue offspring

•    Management of group birthing

•    Synchronized offspring ages

•    Slightly increased reproductive potential (a few days)

 

Induced Parturition - methods

w   Oxytocin

w   Corticosteroids

w   Dexamethasone

w   prostaglandin

Oxoject injection (oxytocin)

Lutalyse injection (pglandin)

Blocking Repro in male

w   Castration

•    Surgical removal of testes and epididymides

w   Vasectomy

•    Surgical severing of vas deferens

w   Penile block

•    Tube and pin in sheath

Blocking Repro in male

w   Redirection of prepuce

•    Surgical movement of prepuce opening to the side

•    Penis cannot line up with vulva for copulation

Castration Procedure, Dog

 

 

 

 

 

Blocking Repro in female

w   Ovariohysterectomy

•    Surgical removal of ovaries and uterus

w   Ovariectomy

•    Surgical removal of ovaries

w   Tubal ligation

•    Surgical severing of oviducts

Blocking Repro in female

w   Androgenization

•    Testosterone (oral or injected) to prevent cycling

w   Administration of female hormones - prevent ovulation

•    Synthetic progesterone and estrogen derivatives

•    Pills, injections, or implants

Ovariohysterectomy Procedure, Bitch

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biotechnology

w   Sex determination and selection

w   Genetic recombination

w   Cloning

Sex Selection

w   IVF + sex embryos

•    Y-specific DNA probes of cells taken from embryo (costly and harmful)

•    H-Y antigen test (non-invasive, 85% accuracy)

w   Sperm sorting by X vs. Y

•    X weighs more, add charge with laser, separate by charge

•    90% accurate, slow, expensive

Step 1:
Removing Embryo Cells

Step 2:
Y-specific DNA probing

 

w   SPERM SORTING

Genetic Recombination

w   Splice gene from one embryo into chromosomes of another embryo

w   Adult will have gene in all or most cells and pass it on

w   Why?

•    Curing a problem in a line

•    Beginning a line which will produce a lot of a substance

Cloning

w   Creating a “copy”

w   Methods:

•    Starve cells from embryo or adult (make totipotent)

•    Remove nucleus from egg cell

•    Take nucleus from totipotent cell and fuse with egg cell

•    Egg cell gives development factors, nucleus gives genetics

Cloning

Transgenic Cloning

w   Combine cloning and genetic recombination

w   Can contain DNA for production of large quantity of specific proteins ΰ “pharming”

 

Cloning and Pharming:
Case Studies

Where are zoos headed today with reproductive biotechnology?

w   Readings

w   Example strong programs:

•    San Diego

•    St. Louis

•    Brookfield

•    National

•    ACRES