T. Sankai et al., IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION OF FOLLICULAR OOCYTES BY FROZEN-THAWED SPERMATOZOA IN JAPANESE MONKEYS (MACACA-FUSCATA), Laboratory animal science, 47(1), 1997, pp. 58-62
We report the cryopreservation of epididymal spermatozoa and in vitro
fertilization for Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata). Ovarian stimulati
on of seven monkeys was studied by the administration of equine chorio
nic gonadotrophin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during
the nonbreeding season, after which oocytes were collected from ovari
an follicles. The oocytes were subjected to in vitro fertilization by
the frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa collected from a male monkey
during the nonbreeding season. Before the experiment the epididymides
and oocytes were transported about 500 km, during which the epididymid
es were kept in mineral oil to prevent drying and the oocytes were kep
t in a maturation medium. This technique of cryopreservation and in vi
tro fertilization has a wide applicability in nonhuman primate reprodu
ction, including the treatment of infertility and the preservation of
wild, nonhuman primates.