Studies on Reproductive Physiology and Artificial Reproduction in the Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)

猎豹被列入CITES的附录I，被国际自然保护联盟列为“脆弱”物种，传统上很难在人工饲养的情况下饲养这种物种。我们的长期目标是研究猎豹的生殖生理学，并开发人工繁殖技术。这项研究是与Himeji中央公园、Himeji市动物园、群马野生动物园、南木白滨探险世界和滨松动物园合作进行的。本研究以38只猎豹为研究对象，其中雄豹19只，雌豹19只。1.精液特征明显较差，尤其是多形性精子的发生率。2.用S和红素B染色能很好地显示精子顶体。4.受试卵黄是冷冻精子的有效稀释液，而乳糖溶液(PDV)是美国常用的冷冻稀释液。在未怀孕的女性中，血浆类固醇激素的浓度，特别是孕酮的浓度，重复着一个有节奏的模式，从9到12周不等。5.阴道细胞学检查可用于妊娠诊断。6.腹腔镜观察显示，PMSG-hCG治疗能有效抑制卵泡发育和诱导排卵。7.由于宫颈解剖特点，非手术人工授精技术不适用。8.虽然成熟率较低，但在体外可刺激未成熟(生发泡期)的卵巢卵母细胞成熟至末期I期。

The Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is listed on Appendix I of the CITES and as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN.Breeding this species in captivity traditionally has been difficult. Our long-term goal is to investigate reproductive physiology and to develop artificially reproductive techniques in the cheetah. This study is conducted in cooperation with Himeji Central Park, Himeji Municipal Zoo, Gunma Safari World, Nanki Shirahama Adventure World and Hamamatsu Zoological Garden. Thirty eight cheetahs (nineteen males and nineteen females) were used in this study, and the following results were obtained. 1. Semen characteristics were markedly inferior, particularly with respect to the incidence of pleiomorphic spermatozoa. 2. The naphthol yellow S and erythrosin B staining gave good definition of the sperm acrosome. 4. TEST-yolk was more effective diluent for sperm cryopreservation than the lactose solution (PDV), conventionally used in the U.S.A.4. In non-pregnant females, concentrations of the plasma steroid hormones, especially progesterone, repeated a rhythmic pattern, which ranged from 9 to 12 weeks. 5. Vaginal cytology could be available for pregnancy diagnosis. 6. Laparoscopic observation revealed that PMSG-hCG treatment was efficacious against follicular development and ovulation induction. 7. For reasons of anatomical feature of the uterine cervix, nonsurgically artificial insemination technique was not adequate. 8. Although the maturation rate was low, immature (germinal vesicle stage) ovarian oocytes could be stimulate to mature to telophase I in vitro.