Efficient artificial insemination (A.I.) is a necessary adjunct to captive breeding of the non-human primate. In addition to overcoming natural mating problems of mate rejection and trauma, A.I. has the advantages of selective breeding for desirable laboratory animal traits and exact knowledge of conception factors important in studying the early reproductive process.Minimal data on A.I. in the non-human primate are available. Bennett (1967) described the insemination of three squirrel monkeys following HCG-induced ovulation with recovery of fertilized eggs. Van Pelt (1970) recorded intraperitoneal insemination with conception and delivery in three out of eight rhesus monkeys. Dede & Plentl (1966) inseminated for 8 mid-cycle days with a pregnancy rate of 13 % with induced ovulation and 12 % for presumed spontaneous ovulation. These rates equalled those of natural mating. In Macaques, Leverage, Valerio & Schultz (paper presented at Session of Am. Ass. Lab. Anim. Sci. in 1971) found a 13% natural mating conception rate, a 4% vaginal A.I. concep¬ tion rate, a 21-2% intracervical A.I. conception rate and a 20-6 % intrauterine A.I. conception rate.For the present study, twenty females chosen at random from the breeding colony were assigned in groups of four to each of five males. Forty additional females and the remaining colony males bred during the time of this study by standard natural mating techniques formed the control group. All animals in the colony were highly fertile and all females had a history of at least one conception for each six menstrual cycles in which mating occurred. For both study groups, exposure to spermatozoa (a term used here to imply either A.I. or natural mating as appropriate) was begun in the menstrual cycle following the first menses after weaning of the females' most recent infant.The females undergoing A.I. were inseminated on Days 10, 12 and 14 of the first cycle. The second and third cycle insemination days were adjusted to provide sperm exposure every other day from 2 days before the next anticipated mid-cycle to 14 days before the next anticipated menses as calculated from each animal's preceding menstrual cycle lengths. The females were palpated regularly till the presence or absence of pregnancy was confirmed. All females * Present address:
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.