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In vitro fertilization and gamete micromanipulation in the lowland gorilla
S E Lanzendorf1, W J Holmgren, N Schaffer
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Prentice Women's Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611.
Purpose:
Our purpose was to utilize current reproductive technologies to treat an infertile female lowland gorilla.
Results:
Following pituitary down-regulation with a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist and follicular stimulation with human menopausal gonadotropins, transrectal ultrasound-guided aspiration of ovarian follicles yielded nine oocytes. Following failed fertilization with both epididymal and electroejaculated sperm, zona dissection and sperm injection were performed and produced one embryo, which was cryopreserved. Immature oocytes were obtained from ovarian sections and were either cultured in vitro or cryopreserved.
Conclusions:
This report demonstrates that in vitro fertilization techniques, including pituitary suppression, ultrasound-guided aspiration, micromanipulation, and cryopreservation, can be used to assist reproduction in the lowland gorilla.