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Embryos and embryonic stem cells from the white rhinoceros

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas B. Hildebrandt

    (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research
    Freie Universität Berlin)

  • Robert Hermes

    (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research)

  • Silvia Colleoni

    (Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies)

  • Sebastian Diecke

    (Max Delbrück Center
    Berlin Institute of Health)

  • Susanne Holtze

    (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research)

  • Marilyn B. Renfree

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Jan Stejskal

    (ZOO Dvůr Králové)

  • Katsuhiko Hayashi

    (Kyushu University)

  • Micha Drukker

    (Helmholtz Center Munich)

  • Pasqualino Loi

    (University of Teramo)

  • Frank Göritz

    (Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research)

  • Giovanna Lazzari

    (Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies
    Fondazione Avantea)

  • Cesare Galli

    (Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies
    Fondazione Avantea)

Abstract

The northern white rhinoceros (NWR, Ceratotherium simum cottoni) is the most endangered mammal in the world with only two females surviving. Here we adapt existing assisted reproduction techniques (ART) to fertilize Southern White Rhinoceros (SWR) oocytes with NWR spermatozoa. We show that rhinoceros oocytes can be repeatedly recovered from live SWR females by transrectal ovum pick-up, matured, fertilized by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and developed to the blastocyst stage in vitro. Next, we generate hybrid rhinoceros embryos in vitro using gametes of NWR and SWR. We also establish embryonic stem cell lines from the SWR blastocysts. Blastocysts are cryopreserved for later embryo transfer. Our results indicate that ART could be a viable strategy to rescue genes from the iconic, almost extinct, northern white rhinoceros and may also have broader impact if applied with similar success to other endangered large mammalian species.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas B. Hildebrandt & Robert Hermes & Silvia Colleoni & Sebastian Diecke & Susanne Holtze & Marilyn B. Renfree & Jan Stejskal & Katsuhiko Hayashi & Micha Drukker & Pasqualino Loi & Frank Göritz & Gi, 2018. "Embryos and embryonic stem cells from the white rhinoceros," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04959-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04959-2
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