Genetic Variation and Molecular Systematics of the Black-Footed Ferret

Abstract.Vaginal cytology and vulva size were used to characterize the reproductive cycle of female blackfooted ferrets (Mustela nigripes), Siberian polecats (M. eversmanni), and domestic ferrets (M. putorius furo). Emphasis was on black-footed ferrets because of the need to breed these critically endangered animals and on Siberian polecats because of the close taxonomic relationship to black-footed ferrets. Vaginal cytology of the 3 species of ferret is similar. Proestrus was characterized by an increasing percentage of superficial epithelial cells and enlargement of the vulva. During estrus, superficial cells were usually ≥ 90% of epithelial cells in the vaginal lavage and after several days were fully keratinized. Neutrophils were more common during all stages of the estrous cycle in domestic ferrets than they were in the other species. Following copulation, percentage of superficial calls in the vagina declined and vulva swelling subsided. Large cells, probably of uterine symplasma origin, were observed in vaginal lavages following whelping or pseudopregnancy. Vaginal cytology is extremely useful in the reproductive management of black-footed ferrets and Siberian polecats. Knowledge of normal vaginal cytology could be applied to the diagnosis of female reproductive abnormalities in all 3 species.

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“…15 Black-footed ferrets and Siberian polecats are closely related 1,16 and interbreed in captivity (unpublished observations).…”

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confidence: 92%

Comparative Vaginal Cytology of the Estrous Cycle of Black-Footed Ferrets (Mustela Nigripes), Siberian Polecats (M. Eversmanni), and Domestic Ferrets (M. Putorius Furo)

et al. 1992

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“…They may have been domesticated from the European polecat (M. putorius), or from its eastern congener, the steppe polecat (M. eversmannii), which has a super®cially more similar cranial morphology (Blandford, 1987). Since M. putorius and M. eversmannii are occasionally reported to hybridize where they overlap in their distribution, the reality of a true species split has been debated (Blandford, 1987), and several authors have at least considered whether M. putorius, M. eversmannii, and the endangered M. nigripes from North America (black-footed ferret) could be viewed as one Holarctic species (Anderson, 1977;Anderson et al, 1986;O'Brien et al, 1989). Black-footed ferrets and polecats produce fertile 0006-3207/98/$Ðsee front matter # 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved PII: S0006-3207(98) hybrids in captivity (D. Kwiatkowski, pers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hybridization and the phylogenetic relationship between polecats and domestic ferrets in Britain

Davison

Birks

Griffiths

et al. 1999

Biological Conservation

112

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Ferrets (Mustela furo) were domesticated from polecats (M. putorius, M. eversmannii) over 2000 years ago. Following their introduction to Britain, they escaped and hybridized with native European polecats (M. putorius). Native polecats declined to the point of near extinction prior to World War I, but have recently begun to expand from a Welsh refugium. Concern has arisen as to the extent of polecat/ferret introgression, and in particular, whether the expanding population is of mainly hybrid origin. Therefore, mitochondrial DNA sequencing was used to investigate polecat genetic diversity in Britain. Two geographically distinct lineages were found, where one may be ancestral to the British polecat, and the other to the domestic ferret. The ancestral distribution of each lineage, or assortative mating is sucient to explain the observed pattern. A further comparison between the distribution of the polecat phenotype and mitochondrial haplotype implies that the current population expansion may be mediated by dispersing male polecats hybridizing with female feral ferrets. However, the wild source of the ferret remains obscure. Relatively recent speciation from European mink (M. lutreola) and black-footed ferrets (M. nigripes), and/or the eects of hybridization result in an unresolved molecular phylogeny. #

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“…Although efforts have emphasized natural breeding of captive individuals, exploration of artificial breeding approaches by using non-endangered animals has been recommended (Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Plan, 1988). The domestic ferret and black-footed ferret are taxonomically in the same genus and recent molecular analyses indicate close genetic similarity (O'Brien et al, 1989). Domestic ferrets are seasonal breeders with reproductive activity stimulated by a long-day photoperiod (Hammond & Marshall, 1930;Bissonette, 1932Bissonette, , 1935Donovan, 1967).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semen characteristics and testosterone profiles in ferrets kept in a long-day photoperiod, and the influence of hCG timing and sperm dilution medium on pregnancy rate after laparoscopic insemination

Wildt

Bush²,

Morton

et al. 1989

Reproduction

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Summary. Five domestic ferrets previously maintained for 12 weeks under a 16L:8D photoperiod were electroejaculated weekly for 15\p=n-\65weeks while continuing to be exposed to the prolonged light cycle. Two ferrets sustained spermatogenesis for 20 and 26 weeks, while sperm production in the remaining males either was sporadic or decreased, remained depressed and then increased to peak levels observed in other males. Regardless of the temporal spermatogenesis patterns within males, the number of electroejaculated spermatozoa with residual cytoplasmic droplets or abnormal acrosomes increased in all ferrets over time. Diluted ejaculates meeting artificial insemination criteria were deposited intravaginally or by transabdominal laparoscopy into the uterine horns of females treated 0 or 24 h earlier with 90 i.u. hCG. Vaginal insemination was ineffective (0 pregnancies in 10 attempts), but 17/24 ferrets (70\m=.\8%) inseminated laparoscopically became pregnant and delivered live young (mean litter size, 5\m=.\2kits). Number of motile spermatozoa deposited in utero (1\ m=. \ 6\ p=n-\ 10\ m=. \ 0 \m=x\ 106 cells), presence of glycerol in the sperm dilution medium (0 versus 4%) and time of hCG administration (0 versus 24 h before insemination) had no effect on pregnancy results or litter size.

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Genetic Variation and Molecular Systematics of the Black-Footed Ferret

Cited by 32 publications

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Comparative Vaginal Cytology of the Estrous Cycle of Black-Footed Ferrets (Mustela Nigripes), Siberian Polecats (M. Eversmanni), and Domestic Ferrets (M. Putorius Furo)

Comparative Vaginal Cytology of the Estrous Cycle of Black-Footed Ferrets (Mustela Nigripes), Siberian Polecats (M. Eversmanni), and Domestic Ferrets (M. Putorius Furo)

Hybridization and the phylogenetic relationship between polecats and domestic ferrets in Britain

Semen characteristics and testosterone profiles in ferrets kept in a long-day photoperiod, and the influence of hCG timing and sperm dilution medium on pregnancy rate after laparoscopic insemination

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