Theriogenology wild最新文献

{"title":"A first report of organoids derived from rhinoceros endometrium","authors":"Riley E. Thompson-Brandhagen ,&nbsp;Mindy A. Meyers ,&nbsp;Holly Haefele ,&nbsp;Adam Eyres ,&nbsp;Barbara Durrant ,&nbsp;Carly Young ,&nbsp;Shotaro Nakagun ,&nbsp;Fiona K. Hollinshead ,&nbsp;Elena Ruggeri","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100149","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100149","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cell culture models that recapitulate key features of the tissue of interest are widely used in domestic and laboratory animals to reduce the time and financial cost of evaluating physiological and pathological reproductive conditions. Model systems are particularly advantageous for endangered species because performing reproductive experiments to better understand normal physiology and/or disease states must be secondary to producing offspring for the survival of the species. Here we describe a first report of endometrial organoid culture from tissues of two rhinoceros species (<em>Rhinoceros unicornis</em> and <em>Diceros bicornis minor</em>). Organoids from the greater one-horned rhinoceros did not proliferate in culture, and organoids from the southern black rhinoceros proliferated slowly and had a smaller, more dense morphology than either equine or bovine endometrial organoids cultured under the same conditions. This report highlights the importance of biobanking somatic reproductive tissues from endangered species to better understand their normal physiology and disease states and as a resource to potentially improve assisted reproductive technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100149"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Female reproductive physiology in the aardvark (Orycteropus afer): A novel case report","authors":"Lindsey Fallon ,&nbsp;Geoffrey R. Browning ,&nbsp;Rachel Felton ,&nbsp;Missy Belmer ,&nbsp;Xela Riveraluis ,&nbsp;Barbara Durrant ,&nbsp;Christopher W. Tubbs","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is scarce literature describing reproductive biology in the aardvark (<em>Orycteropus afer</em>). Although knowledge from species-specific endocrine monitoring can be applied to in situ and ex situ programs, endocrine profiles have yet to be described for this species, which experiences poor reproductive success in managed care. In this case report, we characterized aspects of aardvark reproductive physiology in a single female using longitudinal monitoring of hormones and behavior, description of physical characteristics, and ultrasonography during the estrous cycle, breeding, gestation, parturition, and lactation. Fecal progesterone (P₄), total estrogens (E), and androstenedione (A₄) concentrations were measured 2 – 4 times weekly by radioimmunoassay and paired with behavioral data to identify estrous cyclicity and gestation. The breeding pair was housed together from 337 to 232 days prior to parturition, with breeding observed via camera monitoring. Baseline P₄ was 193.0 ± 126.68 ng/g (mean±SD) while pregnancy P₄ levels rose to 18,939.8 ± 11,926.17 ng/g. Baseline E was 17.44 ± 11.86 ng/g and follicular phase peak E was 276.73 ± 100.06 ng/g. A₄ was found to be uninformative in this study. Pregnancy was diagnosed by transabdominal ultrasound approximately 3 months into gestation and fetal development was monitored until parturition. Length of gestation was confirmed as previously reported (213 – 258 days), as we estimated the length to be 231 days. Furthermore, we described, for the first time, aardvark pregnancy diagnosis, nursing behavior, return to ovulation during lactation and estrous cycle length (19 ± 5.29 days). These data may help with management decisions and contribute to improving success of aardvark reproduction in managed care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Validation of reproductive monitoring techniques in free-living female giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus)","authors":"Ana Carolina M. Lobo ,&nbsp;Danilo Kluyber ,&nbsp;Budhan S. Pukazhenthi ,&nbsp;Mayara Grego Caiaffa ,&nbsp;Gabriel F. Massocato ,&nbsp;Arnaud L.J. Desbiez ,&nbsp;Rogério A. de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Jaqueline Tamara Bonavina ,&nbsp;Eunice Oba","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The giant armadillo (<em>Priodontes maximus</em>) is classified as Vulnerable and remains one of the least studied neotropical mammals, with major gaps in knowledge of its reproduction limiting reproductive management strategies. This study presents the first integrated reproductive assessment of female giant armadillos, aiming to validate practical tools for reproductive monitoring under field conditions. Between May 2023 and January 2025, six females (one juvenile and five adults) were evaluated in the Pantanal and Cerrado biomes of Brazil. Assessments included external genitalia morphology, vaginal cytology, serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations, and vaginal microbiota. Camera trap records were retrospectively analyzed to determine pregnancy status at the time of capture and no females were pregnant during the study period. The mean estradiol and progesterone concentrations in adults were 422.5 ± 620.4 pg/mL and 5.8 ± 3.3 ng/mL, respectively, while the juvenile concentrations were 10.2 pg/mL and 1.8 ng/mL, respectively. Significant correlations were detected among reproductive parameters, including positive associations between superficial cells and vulvar edema (<em>r</em>_s= 0.72), and between large intermediate cells and progesterone concentration (<em>r</em>_s= 0.75). Negative correlations were observed between parabasal cells and both superficial cells (<em>r</em>_s= −0.82) and estradiol concentration (<em>r</em>_s= −0.68). Vaginal cytology revealed cyclic epithelial maturation consistent with hormonal and morphologic variations and vaginal microbiota was predominantly composed of Enterobacteriaceae. These findings demonstrate that the integration of vaginal cytology, external genitalia assessment, and hormonal profiling is a promising approach for reproductive monitoring in <em>P. maximus</em>, providing essential baseline data for future research and conservation efforts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100153"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147649498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changing reproductive dynamics in harbour seals of the North and Baltic Seas","authors":"Britta Schmidt ,&nbsp;Frederieke Steingrefer ,&nbsp;Tina Kesselring ,&nbsp;Ursula Siebert","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100152","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100152","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Successful Reproduction is fundamental for species survival. In harbour seals, reproductive cycle includes the embryonic diapause. This study investigates seasonal and annual variations in reproductive parameters of harbour seals from the North and Baltic Sea to assess reproductive status, sexual maturity and broader reproductive dynamics. 1.523 females were found dead, or mercy killed along Germany`s coastline between 1995 and 2024. Out of these 383 were examined and categorized into three age groups (adult = 80, juvenile = 77, neonate = 226), as well as into two timelines (1995–2015 and 2016–2024). Ovaries were cut into 2 mm slices and examined for the presence or absence of Tertiary follicles, Corpus luteum, Corpus albicans and scars. Sexual maturity was first observed at 3.5 years - six months later than previously reported. Reproductive activity declined from age 13, earlier than previously assumed. A peak in ovarian weight shifted from mid-March (1995–2015) to late December (2016–2024), suggesting earlier reproductive activation. The period of minimal ovarian activity was delayed, indicating a prolonged reproductive window. Inconsistencies in Cl presence during expected embryonic diapause periods imply alterations in reproductive timing, potentially linked to prey availability or population structure. These results suggest a complex interplay between environmental pressures and reproductive physiology, with potential consequences for fitness, genetic diversity and population resilience. This study presents basic information for assessing harbour seal reproduction along Germany`s coastline and supports the need for long-term, regionally monitoring to guide effective management strategies to better understand the impacts of ongoing changes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100152"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147537572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of a sperm cryopreservation protocol for the purple-striped jellyfish (Chrysaora colorata)","authors":"Carly Young ,&nbsp;Nicole Ravida ,&nbsp;Barbara Durrant ,&nbsp;Ellen Umeda","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cryopreservation of gametes is a valuable strategy for the long-term preservation of genetic material in marine invertebrates, especially for species facing ecological pressures or requiring controlled breeding strategies. The purple-striped jellyfish (<em>Chrysaora colorata</em>) holds ecological and scientific significance due to its role in coastal marine ecosystems. Despite increasing interest in cnidarian biology and aquaculture, standardized methods for the cryopreservation of jellyfish sperm remain underdeveloped. Establishing a reliable cryopreservation protocol for <em>C. colorata</em> sperm is crucial for supporting ex situ conservation efforts, facilitating reproductive research, and enabling assisted gene flow between fragmented populations. C. <em>colorata</em> sperm was opportunistically collected from live specimens and shipped in filtered seawater overnight at 4°C from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Initial motility and speed of progression (SOP, on a scale of 1–5) were evaluated upon arrival. Sperm was extended in three different cryoprotectants, 10 % DMSO, 1.5 M ethylene glycol or 1.5 M propanediol, with or without the presence of 0.5 M trehalose in either filtered seawater or artificial saltwater. Sperm in 200 µl of extender was frozen in cryovials at 50 °C/min before liquid nitrogen storage. Duplicate vials were thawed at 30°C, and samples were diluted 1:1 with filtered seawater before assessing motility and SOP. Sperm frozen in 1.5 M propanediol without trehalose, regardless of water type, yielded the highest post-thaw motility score of all treatments. This sperm cryopreservation protocol serves as a foundation for future advancements in cnidarian germplasm preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100148"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal switches in testicular gene programs underlie spermatogenic plasticity in the large Japanese field mouse (Apodemus speciosus)","authors":"Kento Annaka ,&nbsp;Syun Tokita ,&nbsp;Jin Shibata ,&nbsp;Reiri Fukuda ,&nbsp;Hikari Ikema ,&nbsp;Akifumi Nakata ,&nbsp;Tomisato Miura ,&nbsp;Hideaki Yamashiro","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100147","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100147","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seasonally bred mammals undergo cyclical changes in spermatogenesis to align their reproductive functions with the environmental conditions. The large Japanese field mouse (<em>Apodemus speciosus</em>), a rodent endemic to Japan, exhibits pronounced seasonal plasticity in its testicular activity, alternating between active spermatogenesis and testicular regression during the breeding and non-breeding seasons, respectively. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this seasonal regulation are poorly understood. In this study, we conducted RNA sequencing of testicular tissues collected from wild <em>A. speciosus</em> during breeding and non-breeding seasons. Differential gene expression analysis identified 2000 transcripts showing significant seasonal variations. Genes upregulated during the non-breeding season were associated with immune regulation, the oxidative stress response, and transcriptional repression. Gene Ontology enrichment analyses confirmed season-specific transitions in biological processes, such as gamete generation, hormone signaling, and immune homeostasis. These results suggest that <em>A. speciosus</em> employs a reversible and highly coordinated transcriptional program to toggle between the reproductively active and quiescent testicular states. This study represents the first testis-specific transcriptomic study of <em>A. speciosus</em> and provides novel insights into the molecular regulation of seasonal spermatogenesis in wild mammals. Our findings establish a valuable framework for future research on reproductive seasonality and contribute to a broader understanding of fertility adaptations under natural ecological conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of ultra-rapid freezing as a simplified, field-friendly technique for semen cryopreservation in wild ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) in southern Texas","authors":"Ashley M. Reeves ,&nbsp;William F. Swanson ,&nbsp;Tyler A. Campbell ,&nbsp;Michael E. Tewes ,&nbsp;Amy Miller ,&nbsp;Cary Springer ,&nbsp;Debra L. Miller","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ocelot (<em>Leopardus pardalis</em>) populations in southern Texas have shown declines in genetic variability over time. Assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs<span><span>¹</span></span>), such as semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination (AI<span><span>²</span></span>), can help improve species sustainability by preserving genetic diversity and connecting populations by transport of frozen gametes. Traditionally, felid semen has been cryopreserved by slow freezing in plastic straws (STRAW) for liquid nitrogen storage. However, another technique, ultra-rapid freezing (URF<span><span>³</span></span>), would decrease the time and effort needed to preserve samples and potentially facilitate cryopreservation in the field. The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of URF to traditional STRAW freezing with two wild felid species living in southern Texas. Semen was collected by urethral catheterization (UC<span><span>⁴</span></span>) and electroejaculation (EEJ<span><span>⁵</span></span>) and frozen using both cryopreservation methods from 12 free-ranging adult felids (n = 6 ocelots; n = 6 bobcats (<em>Lynx rufus</em>)). Post-thaw, sperm samples were assessed for progressive motility, acrosomal integrity, and heterologous in-vitro fertilization (IVF<span><span>⁶</span></span>) of domestic cat oocytes. For both species, sperm acrosomal integrity, percent progressive motility, and rate of forward progression declined (p &lt; 0.001) over time, with no difference (p &gt; 0.05) between cryopreservation methods. Frozen-thawed spermatozoa from both species fertilized mature domestic cat oocytes (range, 8.3 – 100 %), and oocyte cleavage percentage did not differ (p &gt; 0.05) between cryopreservation techniques. Our initial results suggest that URF, in combination with UC, may allow wildlife veterinarians to routinely collect and bank semen samples from free-ranging cats for conservation purposes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ovulation synchronization and fixed-time artificial insemination in bison using washed frozen sperm","authors":"S.E. Pezo ,&nbsp;D.R. Farmer ,&nbsp;S.X. Yang ,&nbsp;M. Anzar ,&nbsp;K. Rajapaksha ,&nbsp;G. Mastromonaco ,&nbsp;D. Wickramasingha ,&nbsp;J. Singh ,&nbsp;G.P. Adams","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100150","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100150","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of the study was to improve assisted reproductive technologies needed to establish and deploy a bison genome biobank. In Experiment 1, ovulation was synchronized with either estradiol + progesterone (n = 16) or a high-dose of GnRH (n = 17), and bison were inseminated with sperm washed using a density gradient centrifugation (DGC) procedure with trypsin before cryopreservation. No difference was found in ovulation rate (combined, 85%) or interval from ovulation-inducing treatment to ovulation (1.3 ± 0.1 days) between groups, but pregnancy rates were unexpectedly low (3/28). In Experiment 2, the fertilizing capacity of DGC trypsin-washed versus unwashed sperm was tested by FTAI after synchronizing female bison using the GnRH protocol. Again, pregnancy rates were low (0/14 using DGC trypsin-washed sperm and 4/17 using unwashed sperm). In Experiment 3, the efficacy of two ovarian synchronization protocols was compared (high-dose GnRH vs hCG). Ovulation rates and synchrony were satisfactory and not different between groups (combined, 75% in 1.5 ± 0.1 days). The DGC washing procedure without trypsin increased the proportion of sperm with normal morphology and decreased the proportion with DNA fragmentation (P &lt; 0.01; Experiment 4). The steroid-based versus high-dose GnRH-based ovarian synchronization protocols were equally efficacious (Experiment 5), but the pregnancy rate tended to be higher after FTAI with DGC washed sperm without trypsin vs unwashed sperm (8/12 vs 2/9; P = 0.08). Among experiments, pregnancy rates were highest (P &lt; 0.01) in bison inseminated with sperm washed using DGC without trypsin. The use of trypsin in the DGC washing procedure had a deleterious effect on the in vivo fertilization capability of bison semen.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100150"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the use of trehalose, egg-yolk, and dimethyl sulfoxide, in white spotted bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) sperm cryopreservation media","authors":"James D. Gillis ,&nbsp;Gisele A. Montano ,&nbsp;Linda M. Penfold ,&nbsp;Todd R. Robeck","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100143","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100143","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is estimated that over one-third of elasmobranch species are threatened with extinction. Sperm cryopreservation can theoretically augment population management through the development of gamete biobanks combined with artificial insemination to maintain genetic diversity. However, attempts at cryopreserving white spotted bamboo shark’s sperm, a potential elasmobranch model, have resulted in a poor post-thaw motility (<span><math><mo>≤</mo></math></span> 5 %), thus hindering the development of biobanks. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cryoprotecting agents’ trehalose (Tre), egg-yolk (EY), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on white spotted bamboo shark sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity post-thaw as first steps to developing a cryopreservation protocol. Motility was assessed using both subjective assessment and computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and was found to be correlated (P &lt; 0.0000002; R = 0.908). Highest post-thaw motilities at 0 h were achieved using a combination of E-HBSS media containing 5 % Tre, 20 % EY, and 10 % DMSO (subjective total motility 21.3 <span><math><mo>±</mo></math></span> 1.1 %, CASA total motility 21.3 <span><math><mo>±</mo></math></span> 1.2 %, and PMI 26.6 <span><math><mo>±</mo></math></span> 1.6 %). However, it was noted that ∼40–50 % motility and PMI, respectively, were lost upon addition of DMSO prior to cryopreservation. The improved motility and PMI reported in the present study provide a foundation to further enhance elasmobranch sperm cryopreservation protocols.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100143"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproductive conditioning of captive lionesses: Assessments of vaginal microbiota, oxidative stress and hormonal profile","authors":"Vincenzo Cicirelli ,&nbsp;Matteo Burgio ,&nbsp;Daniela Olivero ,&nbsp;Pietro Laricchiuta ,&nbsp;Giovanni Michele Lacalandra ,&nbsp;Alice Carbonari ,&nbsp;Stefano Carbonara ,&nbsp;Annalisa Rizzo","doi":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100157","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.therwi.2026.100157","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reproductive management in captive large felids represents a major challenge for zoological institutions and conservation programs. This descriptive and exploratory study investigated endocrine profile, oxidative status, and vaginal microbiota in seven captive African lionesses (<em>Panthera leo</em>) with different reproductive conditions: two intact cycling females, three females treated with a deslorelin (GnRH agonist) implant, and two ovariectomized females. During routine health checks under general anesthesia, blood samples and vaginal swabs were collected to assess serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), estradiol, progesterone, oxidative stress markers (d-ROMs and BAP), and vaginal microbiota composition through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. AMH concentrations clearly differentiated intact lionesses from ovariectomized individuals, while implanted females showed intermediate AMH values. Estradiol and progesterone profiles supported effective pharmacological ovarian suppression in implanted lionesses. Oxidative markers showed inter-individual variability. Lionesses with endocrine profiles comparable with active ovarian function displayed higher d-ROMs values. Vaginal microbiota composition at the phylum level was heterogeneous across individuals, without consistent patterns uniquely associated with a specific reproductive condition. Overall, this study provides preliminary integrated data on endocrine, oxidative, and microbial parameters in captive lionesses. AMH may represent a useful tool for assessing ovarian status, while the observed variability in oxidative and microbial profiles warrants further investigation through larger, longitudinal, and functionally integrative studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":75220,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology wild","volume":"8 ","pages":"Article 100157"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147797838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}