Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i>
The genus <i>Alytes</i> consists of six primitive terrestrial-breeding species (five of them endangered or present in restricted distributions) with unique male parental care. <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> was used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive technolo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2802 |
| _version_ | 1797582888653291520 |
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| author | Lucía Arregui Jaime Bosch |
| author_facet | Lucía Arregui Jaime Bosch |
| author_sort | Lucía Arregui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The genus <i>Alytes</i> consists of six primitive terrestrial-breeding species (five of them endangered or present in restricted distributions) with unique male parental care. <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> was used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive technologies for gamete collection, artificial fertilization and captive-rearing of embryos. Sperm collection was achieved with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but only 17 to 50% of males responded to the hormone. In addition, an effect of captivity on sperm quality was observed. A combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and hCG was tested for induction of ovulation, and 100% of females responded to the treatment. Recently collected sperm was used in artificial fertilization, and 10% of eggs showed complete embryo development. To design a method for captive-rearing of embryos, natural clutches (<i>n</i> = 13) were removed from males and divided into two sub-clutches. One was kept with all eggs together and in the other, the egg string was cut and eggs were split individually. All sub-clutches with eggs kept separated presented embryo survival (ranging from 27 to 61%) that hatched normally, while only one sub-clutch with embryos maintained together had some embryo survival (36%). These results may contribute to the management of this and related species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:28:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b49d49ead5804b53b51fb867f56d8fbd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:28:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-b49d49ead5804b53b51fb867f56d8fbd2023-11-19T07:47:36ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-09-011317280210.3390/ani13172802Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i>Lucía Arregui0Jaime Bosch1Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, Ctra. M-604, Km 27.6, Rascafria, 28740 Madrid, SpainCentro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación, Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, Ctra. M-604, Km 27.6, Rascafria, 28740 Madrid, SpainThe genus <i>Alytes</i> consists of six primitive terrestrial-breeding species (five of them endangered or present in restricted distributions) with unique male parental care. <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> was used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive technologies for gamete collection, artificial fertilization and captive-rearing of embryos. Sperm collection was achieved with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but only 17 to 50% of males responded to the hormone. In addition, an effect of captivity on sperm quality was observed. A combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) and hCG was tested for induction of ovulation, and 100% of females responded to the treatment. Recently collected sperm was used in artificial fertilization, and 10% of eggs showed complete embryo development. To design a method for captive-rearing of embryos, natural clutches (<i>n</i> = 13) were removed from males and divided into two sub-clutches. One was kept with all eggs together and in the other, the egg string was cut and eggs were split individually. All sub-clutches with eggs kept separated presented embryo survival (ranging from 27 to 61%) that hatched normally, while only one sub-clutch with embryos maintained together had some embryo survival (36%). These results may contribute to the management of this and related species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2802amphibianmidwife toadegg clutchhatchingspermspermiation |
| spellingShingle | Lucía Arregui Jaime Bosch Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> Animals amphibian midwife toad egg clutch hatching sperm spermiation |
| title | Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> |
| title_full | Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> |
| title_fullStr | Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> |
| title_short | Gamete Collection, Artificial Fertilization and Captive-Rearing of Eggs in a Terrestrial-Breeding Anuran with Parental Care: <i>Alytes obstetricans</i> |
| title_sort | gamete collection artificial fertilization and captive rearing of eggs in a terrestrial breeding anuran with parental care i alytes obstetricans i |
| topic | amphibian midwife toad egg clutch hatching sperm spermiation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2802 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT luciaarregui gametecollectionartificialfertilizationandcaptiverearingofeggsinaterrestrialbreedinganuranwithparentalcareialytesobstetricansi AT jaimebosch gametecollectionartificialfertilizationandcaptiverearingofeggsinaterrestrialbreedinganuranwithparentalcareialytesobstetricansi |