Gestational ultrasonography and Dopplerfluxometry in capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella) zoometric.

The objectives of the current study were as follows: 1) to evaluate blood flow in the uterine (UA) and umbilical (Uma) arteries in pregnant capuchin monkeys by measuring the resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI); 2) to determine the presence or absence of the early diastolic notch and diastolic flow in the UA and Uma flow waveforms, respectively; 3) to perform conceptus echobiometry for fetal growth assessment during pregnancy; 4) to describe the moment that the fetal organs were initially observed; and 5) to determine when the diagnosis of fetal gender is possible. Seven healthy, sexually mature female Sapajus apella were examined in Weeks -20 to -1 before whelping (whelping Week 0). Triplex Doppler was used to assess the blood flow and fetal heart rate, and B-mode ultrasonography was used to assess the fetal organs and conceptus measurements, including the gestational sac latero-lateral longitudinal (LLL) and latero-lateral transversal (LLT), the crown rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BPD), occipito-frontal diameter (OFD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL) and fetal organ. All the pregnancies ended with a normal whelping and the birth of a live newborn. Prior to whelping, all conceptus dimensions increased significantly, whereas the RI and PI of both the UA and Uma decreased significantly. For the UA, the RI and PI were (mean ± SEM) 0.835 ± 0.017 and 2.157 ± 0.129, 0.808 ± 0.008 and 1.920 ± 0.041, and 0.761 ± 0.006 and 1.759 ± 0.036 on periods -3, -2 and -1, respectively. For the Uma, the RI and PI were 0.97 ± 0.01 and 2.50 ± 0.02 at Week -17 and were 0.64 ± 0.02 and 0.98 ± 0.04 at Week -1, respectively. The complete disappearance of the early diastolic notch in the UA, and the complete appearance of diastolic flow in the Uma occurred on Week -1 and Week -11, respectively. Linear regression analyses regarding the relationship of the weeks before whelping (WBW) with the conceptus parameters were as follows: CRL = 16.93 + 0.93 WBW and FL = 3.62 + 0.22 WBW (R2 = 0.98, P < 0.0001); AC = 13.46 + 0.67 WBW (R2 = 0.96, P < 0.0001); BPD = 4.46 + 0.20 WBW (R2 = 0.95, P < 0.0001); LLL = 11.46 + 0.45 WBW, LLT = 9.52 + 0.38 WBW and HC = 16.68 + 0.80 WBW (R2 = 0.92, P < 0.0001); Uma RI = 0.64-0.02 WBW and PI = 0.79-0.11 WBW (R2 = 0.90, P < 0.0001); and OFD = 5.84 + 0.27 WBW (R2 = 0.86, P < 0.0001). The authors concluded that for fetal echobiometry UA and Uma perfusion were important endpoints to assess fetal vitality in the capuchin monkey. Moreover, it was possible to describe the moment when the organs were visualized and perform sexing.

Efficacious long-term cooling and freezing of Sapajus apella semen in ACP-118(®).

The objectives of the present study were to test the effect of coconut water solution (CWS), TES-TRIS and ACP-118(®) on the seminal cooling and cryopreservation of semen from capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella). Semen was collected from six males by electro-ejaculation, diluted in TES-TRIS, CWS or ACP-118(®), and maintained at 4°C for 28h. Semen was subsequently evaluated (Experiment I) or cryopreserved in the presence of different glycerol concentrations (3%, 5% or 7%) (Experiment II). ACP-118(®) was the preferred extender to preserve sperm motility and viability after 28h incubation at 4°C. Cooled sperm were successfully frozen-thawed in a medium containing 3% glycerol. After thawing, sperm retained the capacity to fertilize oocytes and zygotes were obtained. In conclusion, ACP-118(®) can be effectively and efficiently used as extender for the cooling of S. apella semen. Furthermore, cryopreservation using ACP-118(®) by adding 3% glycerol is suitable to maintain sperm morphology and the capacity of these cells to fertilize in vitro.

Conceptus ecobiometry and triplex Doppler ultrasonography of uterine and umbilical arteries for assessment of fetal viability in dogs.

The objectives were to: 1) evaluate blood flow in the uterine (UA) and umbilical (Uma) arteries in the pregnant bitch, by measuring the resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI); 2) to note the presence or absence of the early diastolic notch and diastolic flow in the UA and Uma flow waveforms, respectively; and 3) perform conceptus ecobiometry for fetal growth assessment during pregnancy. Six healthy bitches were examined on approximately Days -44, -42, -36, -31, -28, -25, -21, -18, -14, -8, -4, and -2 of pregnancy (whelping = Day 0). Triplex Doppler and B-mode ultrasonography were used to assess blood flow and conceptus ecobiometry. All pregnancies ended with a normal whelping and birth of live puppies. Prior to whelping, all conceptus dimensions increased significantly, whereas RI and PI of both the Uma and UA decreased significantly. For the UA, RI and PI were (mean +/- SEM) 0.95 +/- 0.02 and 2.75 +/- 0.41, respectively, on Day -44, and were 0.60 +/- 0.01 and 0.99 +/- 0.03 on Day -4. For the Uma, RI and PI were 0.99 +/- 0.01 and 2.42 +/- 0.03 on Day -31, and were 0.62 +/- 0.01 and 1.15 +/- 0.02 on Day -4. The complete disappearance of the early diastolic notch in the UA, and the appearance of diastolic flow in the Uma occurred on Days -16 +/- 5 and -21 +/- 1. The authors concluded that UA and Uma perfusion were important end points to assess fetal vitality in bitches. Furthermore, the current reference values provided a baseline for monitoring normal and abnormal pregnancies in bitches.