Abstract
BackgroundIt is well known that many anurans do not reproduce easily in captivity. Some methods are based on administration of mammalian hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin, which are not effective in many frogs. There is a need for simple, cost-effective alternative techniques to induce spawning.MethodsOur new method is based on the injection of a combination of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist and a dopamine antagonist. We have named this formulation AMPHIPLEX, which is derived from the combination of the words amphibian and amplexus. This name refers to the specific reproductive behavior of frogs when the male mounts and clasps the female to induce ovulation and to fertilize the eggs as they are laid.ResultsWe describe the use of the method and demonstrate its applicability for captive breeding in 3 different anuran families. We tested several combinations of GnRH agonists with dopamine antagonists using Lithobates pipiens. The combination of des-Gly10, D-Ala6, Pro-LHRH (0.4 microrams/g body weight) and metoclopramide (10 micrograms/g BWt. MET) was most effective. It was used in-season, after short-term captivity and in frogs artificially hibernated under laboratory conditions. The AMPHIPLEX method was also effective in 3 Argentinian frogs, Ceratophrys ornata, Ceratophrys cranwelli and Odontophrynus americanus.ConclusionOur approach offers some advantages over other hormonally-based techniques. Both sexes are injected only once and at the same time, reducing handling stress. AMPHIPLEX is a new reproductive management tool for captive breeding in Anura.
Highlights
It is well known that many anurans do not reproduce in captivity
Numerous captive breeding programs directly address the problem of the amphibian decline but significant challenges still remain [10,11]
We considered des-Gly-His-(Bzl)-gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-ethylamide and des-Gly10, DAla6, Pro-GnRH the most promising because they have been shown to be biologically active in frogs
Summary
It is well known that many anurans do not reproduce in captivity. Some methods are based on administration of mammalian hormones such as human chorionic gonadotropin, which are not effective in many frogs. There is a need for simple, cost-effective alternative techniques to induce spawning. Nace and colleagues [8,9] were probably the first to indicate the need for captive breeding and domestication of amphibians. Numerous captive breeding programs directly address the problem of the amphibian decline but significant challenges still remain [10,11]. It is well known that many anurans do not reproduce in captivity. They either suffer from confinement stress or critical environmental cues are missing in captivity, resulting in the inhibition of reproduction [12].
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