Publications by authors named "S Holtze"
Advanced assisted reproduction technologies in endangered mammalian species.
Reprod Domest Anim
October 2024
A new synergistic approach of classical conservation strategies combined with advanced assisted reproduction technologies (aART) allows for protection and rescue of endangered keystone species at the brink of extinction, which can help to safeguard complex ecosystems. Reproduction biology and management in mammal species is not only challenging in regards to their diverging sizes, anatomy, and often unknown physiology; it also requires customized training or chemical restraint protocols for safe handling. Besides these general challenges, there are several new assisted reproduction techniques (ART) specifically tailored to critically endangered mammals.
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- EEHV, particularly EEHV1 and EEHV5, causes severe hemorrhagic disease in captive juvenile Asian elephants, with EEHV5 recently linked to fatal cases.
- A four-year-old Asian elephant in Germany died from an EEHV5 infection, with extensive testing revealing the virus in all tissues and significant genomic variations compared to existing EEHV5 sequences.
- The study highlights the need for increased awareness of EEHV5 as a key elephant threat, promoting research on its genetic diversity and potential strategies for diagnosis and disease control.
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- Genome Resources Banks (GRBs) are essential for collecting and managing genetic material to protect biodiversity for research and conservation purposes.
- They help in species preservation and genetic management, particularly for endangered animals, by storing genetic information securely to counteract population risks.
- The article discusses the ethical concerns around wildlife biobanking practices and suggests using a tool called ETHAS to ensure these procedures maintain high ethical standards throughout their development and operation.
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- The study investigates whether human platelet lysate (hPL) and umbilical cord plasma can improve vascularization and survival of human ovarian tissue transplanted into immunodeficient mice.
- The design involved transplanting ovarian tissue into nude mice and administering PRP or saline while assessing vascularization and gene expression related to angiogenesis and apoptosis over time.
- Results showed increased vascularization over time but no significant differences between hPL and the control; gene expression indicated changes in apoptosis markers, and ultrasound monitoring proved useful but did not show enhanced follicular survival.
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- The African naked mole-rat is a valuable model for studying cancer and aging due to its unique long lifespan and cancer resistance.
- Researchers face challenges in creating induced pluripotent stem cells from this species because of its stable epigenome, prompting them to find alternatives.
- The study successfully derived embryonic stem cells using immature oocytes from inactive females, which were matured and fertilized in the lab, resulting in blastocyst development through an isolated mouse oviduct culture system.