For the discussion of primate keeping and breeding in captivity the mating systems of different primates are one of the key issues. This discussion has to be conducted in context of the respective social systems of the primate species. We start this course module with these ethological aspects. Sessions about the morpho-logical and physiological aspects of reproduction, which is important for the understanding of laboratory primate breeding, complement the course schedule. The last day of the course is dedicated to concrete topics of ontogenesis, breeding and genetic population management. The course will give the possibility to discuss these issues in an auditorium of experienced colleagues.
Schedule
| Tuesday, 23.10. |
For all participants who already arrive on Tuesday we offer a convivial evening at 7:00 pm in a restaurant in the city of Göttingen; detailed information will follow.
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| Wednesday, 24.10. |
| 08:30 am |
Registration |
| 09:00 |
Welcome, Information about EUPRIM-Net and the Course Series
Eckhard Heymann, Deike Terruhn |
| 09:30 |
Social Systems
Tony Weingrill, University Zürich, Switzerland |
| 12:00 |
Lunch Break at DPZ |
| 01:00 pm |
Primate Mating Systems, 1st part, A and B
Joanna Setchell, Durham University, UK |
| 03:00 |
Coffee Break
Group Photograph
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| 03:30 |
Primate Mating Systems, 2nd part, A and B
Joanna Setchell, Durham University, UK |
| 05:00 |
End of Session |
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| 05:15 |
Guided Tour through the DPZ Facilities - DPZ presentation |
| 06:30 |
Dinner at DPZ* |
| 07:30 |
Social Evening: Nature Movie and more - DPZ |
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| Thursday, 25.10. |
| 09:00 am |
Comparative Aspects of Male and Female Reproduction:
Comparative aspects of reproduction in female primates
Keith Hodges, DPZ
Basic principles of gametogenesis, follicle development and early embryogenesis
Penelope Nayudu, DPZ
Female reproduction
Penelope Nayudu, DPZ |
| 12:00 |
Lunch Break at University Cafeteria |
| 01:00 pm |
Sexual Swellings in Female Primates:
Facts and Hypotheses
Dietmar Zinner, DPZ |
| 03:00 |
Coffee Break |
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Physiology of Reproduction, 1st part: Fundamentals on the Physiology of Macaque Reproduction and Breeding in Captivity - 2nd part: Folliculogenesis, Ovulation and early Development in
Macaques - CANCELLED
Polani Seshagiri, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India |
| 05:00 |
End of Session |
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| 06:00 |
Guided City Tour / Town of Göttingen |
| 07:00 |
Dinner in a Restaurant in the Town Centre (optional) |
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| Friday, 26.10. |
| 08:30 am |
Ontogenesis, Breeding, Monitoring
Penelope Nayudu, DPZ |
| 11:00 |
Coffee Break |
| 11:30 |
Genetics Population Management
Gaby Doxiadis, BPRC, The Netherlands |
| 01:00 pm |
Closing Remarks |
| 01:15 |
Lunch Break at University Cafeteria |
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| 02:15 |
Optional Exam (1 hour) (pdf) |
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*Extra Cost for Dinner (15 € - has to be booked and paid on the first day of course if you like to participate) |
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Those of you who stay the weekend in Göttingen between this and the next course should be aware that Göttingen has a rich cultural life with theatres, orchestras, museums and events. Also, the surrounding area is very beautiful and offers many possibilities for short trips.
Further information can be found at www.goettingen-tourismus.de |
Abstracts
| Social Systems |
| Tony Weingrill, University Zürich, Switzerland |
| Although social organisation is extremely divers in primates, including non-gregarious species, the majority of primate species live in stable groups with an unmatched social complexity among mammals. In this course part, important primate specializations and features of life history will be introduced and its implications for social systems discussed. The social systems of various primate species will be compared by describing spatial distribution of group members, their dispersal mode and the relationship between individuals. Next, the socioecological paradigm will be introduced as a framework to explain what determines group size and composition. According to this model, food distribution and predation risk leads to the distribution and competitive strategies of females, while the number of males and the relationship among males is depended on the distribution of females. The third important selective force is intersexual conflict, which influences not only male-female relationships but also the distribution of both male and females. |
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| Primate Mating Systems |
| Joanna Setchell, Durham University, UK |
The first lecture on primate mating systems will examine the diversity of primate mating systems, which range from monogamy (1m:1f), to multimale-multifemale (>1m:>2f), via polyandry (>1m,1f) and polygyny (1m,>1f). We will look at examples of each of these mating systems, and then examine the factors that shape their evolution. We will examine why most primates are polygynous, and hypotheses for the evolution of monogamy in some species. We will then examine why female primates show a strong tendency towards mating with multiple males, and have evolved various adaptations that make it difficult for males in multimale groups to monopolise fertile females. Examples from studies investigating the relationship between dominance and male mating success will be presented and the priority of access model will be introduced.
The second lecture deals with intrasexual competition, mate choice and conflict between the sexes. By competing with other males for access to females, dominant males increase their reproductive success by raising their number of mating partners, whereas females increase their reproductive success mainly by choosing mates that provide the best resources or genes for their offspring. Primate males are generally larger than females and there is much evidence for sexual coercion. Infanticide by males can be regarded as the most severe form of conflict between males and females. Infanticide has been observed in many primate species and other mammals. The adaptive nature of infanticide by males has been demonstrated in primates and we will discuss its importance as a selection pressure shaping the reproductive physiology of mothers as well as protective responses from likely fathers. |
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| Physiology of Reproduction |
| Polani Seshagiri, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India |
Non-human primates are invaluable for studying human reproduction. However, the cellular and molecular regulation of early developmental events and of early pregnancy is some of the least studied aspects of primate reproduction. A dvances in this area are hampered because of the paucity of experimental animals and of their gametes-embryos. I n part, it is also due to the difficulty in studying early events of primate development. Macaque species such as Macaca mulatta (rhesus monkey) and Macaca radiata (bonnet monkey) are ideal models for studying primate reproductive physiology. They are quite suited for experimental biology in captive environments. Their ovarian cyclicity is similar to human females and also events of early development. Routine radio immuno assay measurements of circulating levels of hormones (estradiol 17ß, LH, progesterone and CG) are good predictors for monitoring regularity of menstrual cycles, early conception and progression of pregnancy. Besides, macaques are suitable models to study the regulation of multiple follicular development, following gonadotrophin ovarian stimulation and for generating supernumerary oocytes-embryos. In macaques, non-invasive ultrasonography could be performed to monitor follicular developmental dynamics and to time hCG-induced follicular maturation-ovulation. Also, non-surgical recovery of uterine-stage embryos could be performed for early developmental studies. Despite these fine experimental advantages, the successful timed-breeding of individually housed females in captivity, particular in colony-reared environment, unlike the ones in group housing, could pose a great deal of challenge in view of the need for understanding a few critical parameters such as right choice of fertile animals, timing of peri-ovulatory periods of mating-receptive females, selection of suitable stud males and an understanding of their mating behavior.
The first lecture will describe the fundamentals on the reproductive physiology and early development in macaque species and strategies of breeding in captivity. This will be followed by a second lecture which will deal with aspects related to ovarian folliculogenesis, ovulation and early embryo development in macaques. Studies related to the above will not only provide valuable information in our understanding of early development of non-human primates but also have implications in the clinical management of human infertility and are important in developing potential protocols for conservation of endangered primates. |
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| Genetic Population Managment |
| Gaby Doxiadis, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands |
- MHC typing as a useful method for genetic population management in outbred macaque colonies and
- Microsatellite typing for parentage testing
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) typing for determination of the origin of the monkeys
The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and class II gene products play a essential role in adaptive immune defense in humans as well as non-human primates. The hallmark of the MHC is its extensive degree of polymorphism. Therefore, typing of MHC antigenes is a useful method for the characterization of the genetic background of a colony. The BPRC houses an outbred breeding colony of rhesus macaques of more than 5 generations. These monkeys have all been serologically typed for their MHC-A, -B (class I ) and -DR (class II) antigenes, and pedigrees have been determined.
Topic 1a: Introduction in the MHC
The genes encoding for the MHC antigenes belong to multigene families which are known for their polymorphism and diversity. Nowadays, molecular methods are used for high resolution typing of these genes which is most thoroughly performed by sequencing. Additionally, methods have been developed for a quick pre-screening of allelic variations of certain MHC genes.
Topic 1b): The MHC complex: multigene families, polymorphism, diversity
Topic 1c): Introduction in molecular methods: sequencing, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE), microsatellite typing.
DGGE is a method frequently used to determine allelic variation of polymorphic genes in a quick and reproducible manner. For -DRB, the most polymorphic MHC class II loci of rhesus macaques, the DGGE method has been a helpful tool.
Microsatellites, short nucleotide repeats of 2 to 6 bp which are abondantly present in genomes of nearly organisms, are not only highly variable in number of repeats but are also inherited in a Mendalian fashion. Therefore, they are also useful tools for parentage determination.
Topic 2: Microsatellite typing for parentage testing
The rhesus macaques of the BPRC’s breeding colony originate mainly from India but there are also monkeys from Burma and China which are not easily distighuishable. Therefore, sequencing of the part of the mtDNA coding for the 12rRNA is performed.
Topic 3: mtDNA typing
For some topics, examples will be presented and questions are welcome |
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