Estrous cycle characterisation and artificial insemination using frozen–thawed spermatozoa in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

• DOI: 10.1530/rep.1.00516
• Publication Date: 2005-04-26T21:18:29Z
• Authors: TR Robeck; KJ Steinman; M Yoshioka; E Jensen; JK O’Brien; E Katsumata; C Gili; JF McBain; J Sweeney; SL Monfort
• Keywords: Cryopreservation; Male; Progesterone Congeners; Dolphins; Ovary; Estrogens; Estrous Cycle; Luteinizing Hormone; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Animals; Female; Trenbolone Acetate; Estrus Detection; Estrus Synchronization; Insemination, Artificial; Progesterone; Semen Preservation; Ultrasonography

The reproductive endocrinology of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, was characterized to facilitate development artificial insemination using cryopreserved spermatozoa. Specific objectives were: (i) determine excretory dynamics urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovarian steroid metabolites during estrous cycle; (ii) evaluate effect an exogenously administered synthetic progesterone analog (altrenogest) on excretion; (iii) correlate follicular growth ovulation (as determined by transabdominal ultrasound) LH metabolites; (iv) examine in vivo fertilisation capacity semen, (v) develop intrauterine technique. Based endocrine monitoring natural cycles (2 consecutive cycles) nine post altrenogest ten females, were found be 36 days long comprised 8 day 19 luteal phase, respectively. Peak estrogen conjugates (EC; 5.4 ± 3.8 ng/mg creatinine (Cr)) occurred h prior surge (70.9 115.7 Cr). time ovulation, as ultrasonography, 32.1 8.9 24.3 7.0 after onset peak, Mean preovulatory diameter circumference 2.1 0.5 cm 6.5 1.5 cm, Of 27 synchronisation attempts, 13 resulted ovulatory cycle, with occurring 21 post-altrenogest treatment. Intrauterine (4 5) intracornual (1 3) inseminations conducted across eight five pregnancies (63%), one pregnancy from use liquid stored whereas four achieved semen. These data provide new information female dolphin physiology, demonstrate that combination serial ultrasonography contributed successful AI liquid-stored