Abstract
BackgroundArtificial insemination (AI) using frozen-thawed semen is well established and routinely used for breeding in various mammalian species. However, there is no report of the birth of elephant calves following AI with frozen-thawed semen. The objective of the present study was to investigate the fertilizing ability of chilled and frozen-thawed semen in the Asian elephant following artificial insemination (AI).MethodsSemen samples were collected by from 8 bulls (age range, 12-to 42-years) by manual stimulation. Semen with high quality were either cooled to 4°C or frozen in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) before being used for AI. Blood samples collected from ten elephant females (age range, 12-to 52-years) were assessed for estrus cycle and elephants with normal cycling were used for AI. Artificial insemination series were conducted during 2003 to 2008; 55 and 2 AI trials were conducted using frozen-thawed and chilled semen, respectively. Pregnancy was detected using transrectal ultrasonography and serum progestagen measurement.ResultsOne female (Khod) inseminated with chilled semen became pregnant and gave birth in 2007. The gestation length was 663 days and the sex of the elephant calf was male. One female (Sao) inseminated with frozen-thawed semen showed signs of pregnancy by increasing progestagen levels and a fetus was observed for 5 months by transrectal ultrasonography.ConclusionThis is the first report showing pregnancy following AI with frozen-thawed semen in the Asian elephant. Successful AI in the Asian elephant using either chilled or frozen-thawed semen is a stepping stone towards applying this technology for genetic improvement of the elephant population.
Highlights
Artificial insemination (AI) using frozen-thawed semen is well established and routinely used for breeding in various mammalian species
Hormonal assay for determination of estrous cycle Eight out of 10 elephants assessed for estrus cycle showed normal cycling and were selected for artificial insemination (AI)
The onset of the luteal phase was defined as the first point at which serum progestagen concentrations increased above 0.3 ng/ml and retained high levels (1 to 2 ng/ml) for at least 2 weeks
Summary
Artificial insemination (AI) using frozen-thawed semen is well established and routinely used for breeding in various mammalian species. There is no report of the birth of elephant calves following AI with frozen-thawed semen. The objective of the present study was to investigate the fertilizing ability of chilled and frozen-thawed semen in the Asian elephant following artificial insemination (AI). Two AI techniques in elephants have been reported; i.e. surgical AI via vestibulotomy incision [1] and endoscopic AI [2,3]. The objective of this study was to investigate the fertilizing ability of either chilled or frozenthawed semen using the modified endoscopic AI technique described
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