TY  - JOUR
AB  - The ongoing mass extinction of animal species at an unprecedented rate is largely caused by human activities. Progressive habitat destruction and fragmentation is resulting in accelerated loss of biodiversity on a global scale. Over decades, captive breeding programs of non-domestic species were characterized by efforts to optimize species-specific husbandry, to increase studbook-based animal exchange, and to improve enclosure designs. To counter the ongoing dramatic loss of biodiversity, new approaches are warranted. Recently, new ideas, particularly the application of assisted reproduction technologies (ART), have been incorporated into classical zoo breeding programs. These technologies include semen and oocyte collection, artificial insemination, and in-vitro embryo generation. More futuristic ideas of advanced ART (aART) implement recent advances in biotechnology and stem-cell related approaches such as cloning, inner cell mass transfer (ICM), and the stem-cell-associated techniques (SCAT) for the generation of gametes and ultimately embryos of highly endangered species, such as the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) of which only two female individuals are left. Both, ART and aART greatly depend on and benefit from the rapidly evolving cryopreservation techniques and biobanking not only of genetic, but also of viable cellular materials suitable for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). The availability of cryopreserved materials bridges gaps in time and space, thereby optimizing the available genetic variability and enhancing the chance to restore viable populations.
AU  - Hildebrandt, T.B.*
AU  - Hermes, R.*
AU  - Goeritz, F.*
AU  - Appeltant, R.*
AU  - Colleoni, S.*
AU  - de Mori, B.*
AU  - Diecke, S.*
AU  - Drukker, M.
AU  - Galli, C.*
AU  - Hayashi, K.*
AU  - Lazzari, G.*
AU  - Loi, P.*
AU  - Payne, J.*
AU  - Renfree, M.*
AU  - Seet, S.*
AU  - Stejskal, J.*
AU  - Swegen, A.*
AU  - Williams, S.A.*
AU  - Zainuddin, Z.Z.*
AU  - Holtze, S.*
C1  - 61920
C2  - 50515
CY  - Ste 800, 230 Park Ave, New York, Ny 10169 Usa
SP  - 76-88
TI  - The ART of bringing extinction to a freeze – History and future of species conservation, exemplified by rhinos.
JO  - Theriogenology
VL  - 169
PB  - Elsevier Science Inc
PY  - 2021
SN  - 0093-691X
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - We determined the effect of monogamous or polygamous mating with 2 females on vaginal plug (VP) rate, embryo donors (ED), 2-cell embryo production, and male performance after superovulation of females aging 24d or 45-48d. C57BL/6NCrl (B6N), BALB/cAnCrl (BALB/cN), FVB/NCrl (FVB/N), and Crl:CD1(ICR) (CD-1) females received 5 IU eCG and 5 IU hCG (24d) or 7.5 IU eCG and 7.5 IU hCG (45-48d) 48 h apart. After the hCG injection, females were paired with males, which alternated weekly in monogamous or polygamous mating. Significant differences in the percentage of VP-positive females between monogamous and polygamous mating were observed for B6N (71% vs. 49%), FVB/N (77% vs. 51%), and CD-1 (90% vs. 67%) at 45-48d. BALB/cN and CD-1 showed higher VP rates than B6N and FVB/N. A significantly higher percentage of ED was found for monogamous than for polygamous mating for FVB/N (87% vs. 61%) at 24d and for B6N (91% vs. 53%) and CD-1 (90% vs. 68%) at 45-48d. In all strains of mice and in both age groups, no significant differences were observed in the number of intact 2-cells per VP-positive female, ED or treated female between monogamous and polygamous mating except in the B6N strain where monogamous mating resulted in a significantly higher number of intact 2-cell embryos per treated female than polygamous mating at both ages. The present results imply that polygamous mating can be implemented for 2-cell embryo production in all strains studied except for B6N when all females are euthanized. However, when only VP+ females are sacrificed polygamous mating can be employed for all 4 strains studied.
AU  - Heykants, M.*
AU  - Scherb, H.
AU  - Michel, G.*
AU  - Mahabir, E.*
C1  - 53339
C2  - 44565
SP  - 85-94
TI  - Influence of polygamous versus monogamous mating on embryo production in four different strains of mice after superovulatory treatment.
JO  - Theriogenology
VL  - 114
PY  - 2018
SN  - 0093-691X
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Disseminating mouse stocks as frozen materials offers both ethical and logistical advantages over live animal shipment, minimizing the welfare issues and avoiding some of the complex custom regulations that are associated with live animal transportation. Embryo freezing in liquid nitrogen (LN2) at −196 °C has traditionally been the method of choice for archiving mouse lines. However, spermatozoa freezing is emerging as a more convenient alternative due to the application of innovative cryopreservation and recovery protocols. In addition, frozen spermatozoa are less sensitive to post-freezing temperature fluctuations. Here we demonstrated that spermatozoa frozen using standard laboratory protocols can be safely stored in dry ice (−79 °C) for at least seven days. The protocol we report here is robust and has been validated in a multi-centric study involving mouse spermatozoa samples exchanged between five European Mouse Mutant Archive (EMMA) nodes. Furthermore, following shipment on dry ice the spermatozoa can be returned to LN2 for long term storage without any noticeable detrimental effect. This protocol permits frozen spermatozoa to be shared and shipped in dry ice between biorepositories, networks and scientific institutions at low cost, using common courier companies, while avoiding the complexities, risks and hazards associated with using a traditional LN2 dry-shipper.
AU  - Raspa, M.*
AU  - Guan, M.*
AU  - Paoletti, R.*
AU  - Montoliu, L.*
AU  - Ayadi, A.*
AU  - Marschall, S.
AU  - Fray, M.*
AU  - Scavizzi, F.*
C1  - 50934
C2  - 42961
CY  - New York
SP  - 49-57
TI  - Dry ice is a reliable substrate for the distribution of frozen mouse spermatozoa: A multi-centric study.
JO  - Theriogenology
VL  - 96
PB  - Elsevier Science Inc
PY  - 2017
SN  - 0093-691X
ER  - 

TY  - JOUR
AB  - Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are permanent cell lines that can be maintained in a pluripotent, undifferentiated state. Appropriate environmental stimuli can cause them to differentiate into cell types of all three germ layers both in vitro and in vivo. Embryonic stem cells bear many opportunities for clinical applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Whereas most of our knowledge on the biology and technology of ESCs is derived from studies with mouse cells, large animal models mimicking important aspects of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology more closely than mouse models are urgently needed for studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of cell therapies. The dog is an excellent model for studying human diseases, and the availability of canine ESCs would open new possibilities for this model in biomedical research. In addition, canine ESCs could be useful for the development of cell-based approaches for the treatment of dogs. Here, we discuss the features of recently reported canine embryo-derived cells and their potential applications in basic and translational biomedical research.
AU  - Schneider, M.R.*
AU  - Wolf, E.*
AU  - Braun, J.*
AU  - Kolb, H.-J.
AU  - Adler, H.
C1  - 3399
C2  - 27442
SP  - 492-497
TI  - Canine embryonic stem cells: State of the art.
JO  - Theriogenology
VL  - 74
IS  - 4
PB  - Elsevier
PY  - 2010
SN  - 0093-691X
ER  -