Research Group 5: Reproduction Management

Subjects and Projects

Research Topic 1 - Strategies for Reproductive Success

MEGAVERTEBRATES

• Luteogenesis in pregnant Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)
• Prenatal development of elephants (Elephas maximus, Loxodonta africana)
• Development of sexual maturity in male elaphantspecies (Elephas maximus, Loxodonta africana) during puberty

CARNIVORES

• Reproductive biology of the fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)
• Reproduktive biology of ursids and giant panda - a comparative approach

ENDEMIC WILD GAME

• Ratio of genderspecific spermatozoa in the ejaculate
• Superfetation in the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus)
• Field investigations on the current reproductive status in free-ranging European brown hares (Lepus europaeus)
• Mechanisms of the spermatogenesis in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
• Ultrasonography of the pregnancy of the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

COMPARATIVE STUDIES - evolutionary morphology and comparative anatomy

• comparative studies on the reproductive organs of mammals and other vertebrates
• comparative studies on the larynx and vocal tract of cervids and bovids

a) comparative studies of gender specific differences

b) comparative studies of inter and intra specific differences

• Anatomic Imaging - a book project
• Imaging archive

MEGAVERTEBRATES

Ultrasonographic and endocrinologic characterization of the luteogenesis in pregnant Asian elephants (Elephas maximus)

project-oriented publications

Sonographic Characterisation of the prenatal development of elephants

The elephant has with approximately 640 days the longest gestation period of all mammals. However, only little is known about its prenatal development. The examination material of the past based on fetuses collected during culling actions in South Africa. As fetal age of these specimens was not known, morphological and histological observations could not be related to fetal age. With the establishment of ultarasonography and artifical insemination in the reproductive medicine of the elephant by Dr. Hildebrandt and Dr. Göritz, it is now possible to assess the prenatal development of living fetuses in pregnant elephants. The date of ovulation of all elephants in this study is known from artificial insemination programs or from observed copulation in association with hormone monitoring. Fetal age could therefore be exactly calculated at all times. The aim of the study is to establish fetal growth graphs on the basis of ultrasound measurements. Furthermore, developmental hallmarks such as implantation, placentation and organogenesis are documented and related to fetal age.

project-oriented publications

Characterisation of sexual maturity in male Asian and African elephants (Elephas maximus, Loxodonta africana) during puberty

• assessment of general growth parameters like shoulder height
• continuous transrectal ultrasound examinations to monitor the inner sexual organ development (e.g. testis, ampulla and seminal glands)
• monitoring of plasma testosterone levels in maturing elephants
• continuous ejaculate collection by manual stimulation and characterisation of the spermatological parameters during different stages of puberty

project-oriented publications

CARNIVORES

Basic Research on the Reproductive Biology of the Fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox)

The fossa is one of Madagascars endemic carnivores and was classified as a herpestid by DNA-analyses. Since 2002, the fossa is considered as endangered (Red List, IUCN) and there are 85 individuals (49 males, 36 females) housed in 26 zoos worldwide.

At the IZW, the research groups of reproduction biology (RG 4) and reproduction management (RG 5) support a PhD-project on above named topic. This project includes the examination of a major part of the European captive population (16 males, 15 females from 10 different zoos) and focusses on the following research areas:

• sonomorphology of the reproductive tract (RG 5)
• endocrinology (spot surveys and longitudinal monitoring)(RG 4)
• spermatology (RG 4 & RG 5)
• pheromone analysis (RG 4)
• analysis of clinic blood parameters
• genetic analysis of the captive vs. the wild population (FG2, Cooperation with Omaha zoo, Nebraska).

project-oriented publications

Comparative reproductive investigations in ursids and giant panda

• ultrasonographic and endocrinological basic research in female and male bears

project-oriented publications

ENDEMIC WILD GAME

Ratio of male and female spermatozoa in the ejaculate

project-oriented publications

Superfetation in European bron hares (Lepus europaeus)

Reproductive output greatly influences population dynamics. In EBH most of the existing research studies on reproduction and embryonic development have been post-mortem investigations. Thus, findings were often only incomplete snapshots. As the last decades showed a progressive decline in the European hare population the possibility of an impaired reproductive function was discussed.

Since 1998, long-term studies using high resolution ultrasonography (US) have been performed at the IZW on free-living EBH. A general reproductive disorder could be excluded. EBH reproduction shows some interesting phenomena. The dysfunction of these phenomena, however, may have an important influence on the reproductive output of a population.

Superfetation is one of the still unexplained phenomena. As the pregnancy length in EBH is 42 days birth intervals of 30 to 39 days are said to be common in captive hare populations. The most popular conclusion is that hares develop "parallel pregnancies" and a new conception takes place right before the birth of the "old" young. Evidence for that and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear.

Another phenomenon described is the embryonic resorption even in late pregnancy stages. Again, underlying mechanisms and reasons for that are unknown.

The project aims to investigate the mechanisms of superfetation and embryonic resorption in a captive bred EBH population.

project-oriented publications

Field investigations on current reproductive status in free-ranging European brown hares

• collection of morphological basis parameters and individual marking (transponder); haematological and serological investigations
• sonographic determination of reproductive soundness in male and female hares
• recovery of ejaculates and spermatological assessment

summary of the dissertation

project-oriented publications

Experimental studies on the mechanism of spermatogenesis in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

non-surgical ultrasonographic and endocrinological monitoring of the testicular dynamic

• long-term studies on characterisation of seasonality in male roe deer
• electro-ejaculation, GnRH-challenge test, testicular fine needle biopsies, behavioural studies

project-oriented publications

Ultrasonography as a tool for monitoring pregnancy in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and quantification of the endometrial echotexture during embryonic diapause (eD) using coputer-assisted greyscale analysis

Knowledge about the mechanisms of embryonic diapause in European roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Linné 1758) although, first described 140 years ago is not extensive.  In contrast to post mortem publications, this is an in-vivo study monitored individual ovarian and uterine dynamics during diapause in pregnant and non-pregnant females by transrectal ultrasonography. Observed endometrial changes were quantified by computer-assisted grey scale analysis. Grey scale histograms were lower in pregnant compared to non-pregnant animals beginning as from October.  In late December and January, embryonic structures were detected in animals in which a low echogenic endometrium had been observed earlier.  Ultrasonography and grey scale analysis characterised efficiently the dynamic processes in the uterus and ovary during embryonic diapause in pregnant and non-pregnant roe deer.

 project-oriented publications

COMPARATIVE STUDIES - Evolutionary morphology and comparative anatomy

Evolutionary morphology and comparative anatomy of the reproductive organs in vertebrates, particularly in mammals

The peculiar male genital organs of the African black coucal (Centropus grillii)

W. Goymann and his co-workers at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Andechs, have investigated the social system and reproductive physiology of the African black coucal, a polyandric species with sex-role reversal and altricial development. Subjects of our project are the extreme testicular asymmetry and the anatomy of the male genital tract. Our goal is to find a convincing explanation for the evolution of the conspicuous male genital organs of the African black coucal.

Cooperation partners:

Dr. Wolfgang Goymann, Max Planck Institut für Ornithologie, Andechs

 

project-oriented publications

Evolutionary morphology and comparative anatomy of the larynx and vocal tract in bovids and cervids

a) comparative studies of gender specific differences

Sexual dimorphism of the larynx, unique specializations of the male vocal tract and vocalizations of the Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) in relation to its mating system

Males of the Mogolian gazelle have one of the most extraordinary larynges among mammals. It is about double the size of the female larynx and, in the course of evolution, has acquired further unique features, e.g. lateral ventricles and strongly transformed vocal folds. In addition, there are peculiarities of the remaining vocal tract, e.g. an unpaired palatinal pouch. Probably, the conspicuous larynx and vocal tract of the male have evolved in relation to the polygynous mating system of the Mongolian gazelle. During the rut in December the males round up small harems while permanently emitting loud barks.

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project-oriented publicationst

 

 

 

Hoarse phonation, larynx and sexually dimorphic, inflatable air sac in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

The laryngeal air sac of reindeer has been described by Camper as soon as 1791. However, a comprehensive and integrative study as to evolutionary morphological aspects of this character was missing so far. Our project is aiming at the investigation of this conspicuous specialization in the adult stage of both sexes and also to gain a first impression of the ontogenetic development of this feature. In addition and by considering the mating system, a hypothesis is to be worked out relating to the acoustic function and to the biological role of the air sac in reindeer.

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scientific poster about the project (PDF)

 

project-oriented publications

 

 

 

 

b) comparative studies on inter and intra specific differences

 

Laryngeal anatomy, ventrorostral ventricle and vocalizations of the muskox (Ovibos moschatus)

In both sexes of the muskox the impressing lion-like roaring is supported by an inflatable ventrorostral laryngeal ventricle, that, as far as we know, is here described for the first time. Despite a pronounced sexual dimorphism of head mass, larynx size and fundamental frequency of roaring are almost identical in adult males and females. Two possible acoustic functions of the ventricle are discussed: an amplitude increase of roaring and a decrease of formants by acting as an additional resonance space of the vocal tract.

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project-oriented publications

 

 

 

 

The proboscideal nose of the saiga (Saiga tatarica) and its possible role in phonation

This project deals with an aspect of the proboscideal nose of the saiga which has escaped attention in previous hypotheses of the function of this exceptional feature: its possible role in acoustic communication. Our goal is to check whether anatomical and acoustic results are compatible with this hypothesis.

Cooperating partners:

Dr. Ilya Volodin, Dept. of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia

Dr. Elena Volodina, Scientific Research Department, Moscow Zoo, Russia

 

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projectoriented publications

 

 

Comparison of respective vocal tracts and differing rutting calls in European red deer and North-American Wapiti (Cervus elaphus)

The specific aim of this project is a more detailed understanding of the phonation of the Wapiti. The North-American Wapiti has a phonative repertoire basically different from the European red deer, although both are regarded as belonging to the same species (Cervus elaphus). The general aim of this project is a more detailed understanding of the role of vocal tract and vocal source in the evolution of the acoustic communication in mammals.

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project-oriented publications

 

Book project ,Anatomical Imaging - Towards a New Morphology'

This project aims at editing the extended contributions to Symposium 50, which was held at the 9th International Mammalogical Congress (imc9) 31 Juli - 5 August 2005 in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan (,The combination of classic comparative-anatomical methods with modern volume-rendering computer-tomographic analysis in evolutionary morphology') and additional relevant contributions as a book. We feel this book project to be important as, in the last decades, image rendering technologies (CT, MRI, US) were developed, which, originally designed for medical diagnostic use in humans, gain increasing importance for comparative-anatomical and evolutionary morphological investigations in domestic and wild living animals. These technologies allow for undreamt-of insights in the literal sense.

Editors:

Roland Frey, IZW, Berlin and Hideki Endo, Primate Research Institute, Inuyama

Cooperating partners (authors):

Hideki Endo, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan

Guido Fritsch, Kleintierklinik, Freie Universität, Berlin

Aiko Hiraguchi, Springer Tokyo, Executive Editor, Life Sciences, Tokyo, Japan

Hutchinson, J. R., The Royal Veterinary College, Structure and Motion Lab, United Kingdom

Tomokazu Kawashima and Hiroshi Sasaki, Department of Anatomy, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan

Junpei Kimura, Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Kanagawa, Japan

Alexander Probst, Archaeozoology and Comparative Morphology, Anatomy, Dept. of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna

Heike Scherf, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

Gerald E. Weissengruber, Archaeozoology and Comparative Morphology, Anatomy, Dept. of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna

Lawrence M. Witmer, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Athens, Ohio, USA

Anatomical collection

In the course of the works in evolutionary morphology both the research and back up collection of formalin-preserved specimens and the collection of skulls and skeletal parts of the IZW are continually supplemented. In the end of 2005 holdings comprise about 200 species. The collection provides reference material for comparative-anatomical investigations. Specimens or photographs of them are regularly used as teaching material, e.g. in lectures. In addition, the collection comprises computer tomographical images of selected anatomical specimens..

• Comparative collection of skulls and osseous elements
• Photographic slide collection documenting the head anatomy of ruminants

Imaging archive