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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 17(7)

Reproductive physiology and artificial insemination studies in wild and captive gerenuk (Litocranius walleri walleri)

Linda M. Penfold A D , Steven L. Monfort B , Barbara A. Wolfe C , Scott B. Citino A and David E. Wildt B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A White Oak Conservation Center, 581705 White Oak Road, Yulee, FL 32097, USA.

B Department of Reproductive Sciences, Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, Conservation and Research Center, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.

C North Carolina Zoological Park, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205, USA.

D Corresponding author. Email: lindap@wogilman.com

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 17(7) 707-714 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD05077
Submitted: 6 July 2005  Accepted: 8 August 2005   Published: 2 November 2005

Abstract

Gerenuk antelope in North American zoos are descended from 28 founders imported from Kenya ~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 (~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 × 106 motile fresh or frozen sperm after oestrus synchronisation with two prostaglandin F2α 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.

Extra keywords: artificial insemination, gerenuk, progestagen, progesterone, spermatozoa, testosterone.


Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the staff of Silver Springs and Oklahoma City Zoo for collecting faecal samples from study animals and to Kelly Williamson, Airica Staley, Kendall Mashburn and Marcie Oliva for technical support. We also thank Lorenz Instruments (Jacksonville, FL, USA) for the development and donation of the speculum for the AI study. This study was funded, in part, by the Morris Animal Foundation (98ZO-01) and by Philip and Betty Reed.


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