Postmortem Collection of Gametes for the Conservation of Endangered Mammals: A Review of the Current State-of-the-Art

Abstract

The collection of gametes from recently deceased domestic and wildlife mammals has been well documented in the literature. Through the utilization of gametes recovered postmortem, scientists have successfully produced embryos in 10 different wildlife species, while in 2 of those, offspring have also been born. Thus, the collection of gametes from recently deceased animals represents a valuable opportunity to increase genetic resource banks, obviating the requirement for invasive procedures. Despite the development of several protocols for gamete collection, the refinement of these techniques and the establishment of species–specific protocols are still required, taking into account both the limitations and the opportunities. In the case of wildlife, the optimization of such protocols is impeded by the scarcity of available animals, many of which have a high genetic value that must be protected rather than utilized for research purposes. Therefore, optimizing protocols for wildlife species by using domestic species as a model is crucial. In this review, we focused on the current advancements in the collection, preservation, and utilization of gametes, postmortem, in selected species belonging to Equidae, Bovidae, and Felidae, both domestic and wildlife.

Creating Ex Situ Protected Bioreservoirs as a Powerful Strategy for the Reproductive Biotechnology-Mediated Rescue of Threatened Polish Livestock Breeds

“…Another important task related to the preservation of biodiversity is the collecting and preserving of biological material derived from high-yielding breeds currently being bred in the country, as well as hybrids produced for specific production purposes. In this regard, measures have been taken to reduce the decline in biodiversity and genetic resources of animals [22,23]. These include a number of in situ protection methods that bring about the preservation of livestock species and breeds in normal production systems.…”

“…To avoid adverse impacts of inbreeding and random drift on intra-population genetic structure, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recommends a mating ratio of 5 males and 25 females for protection programs for small populations. A ratio of 50 males and 250 females is preferable for populations characterized by phenotypic traits with low heritability [23].…”