SUCCESSFUL INDUCTION OF OVARIAN ACTIVITY AND LAPAROSCOPIC INTRAUTERINE ARTIFICIAL-INSEMINATION IN THE CHEETAH (ACINONYX-JUBATUS)

An exogenous gonadotropin regimen and a laparoscopic intrauterine artificial insemination (AI) technique, previously developed in the domestic cat, were adapted and assessed for effectiveness in the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Seven female cheetahs were given an injection of either 200 or 400 IU pregnant mares' serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and either 125 or 250 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) 80 hr later. At 42.5-47.0 hr after hCG, all females were evaluated laparoscopically for fresh ovarian corpora lutea (CL). Ovulation was induced successfully in all cheetahs (range: 3-13 CL among females). However, two morphologically distinct CL types were observed: 1) large-sized CL that appeared more related to the low gonadotropin dose; 2) small-sized CL that were detected more often in the high gonadotropin dose group. Six of the were laparoscopically inseminated by depositing electroejaculated/processed sperm transabdominally into the proximal aspect of each uterine horn. The Al procedure was simple and rapid, generally requiring only 30 min after laparoscope insertion. One female, induced to ovulate with 200 IU PMSG and 125 IU hCG and inseminated in utero with 10 x 10(6) motile sperm at 42.5 hr post-hCG, produced a pregnancy and a single live cub after a 95-day gestation. Laparoscopic AI appears to have considerable potential as a tool for assisting captive propagation Of the cheetah.