RT Journal Article
T1 In vitro embryo production in the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) using oocytes recovered post-mortem and cryopreserved spermatozoa
A1 Priego González, Andrea
A1 Munoz-Maceda, Ana
A1 González, Raquel
A1 Rielo, Juan Antonio
A1 Gañán, Natalia
A1 Sánchez Rodríguez, Ana
A1 Villar-Moya, Pilar
A1 Cantos Rubert, Ana
A1 Sánchez Calabuig, María Jesús
A1 Roldan, Eduardo R.S.
AB The Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), once considered the most endangered felid in the world, has become a remarkable example of conservation success thanks to intensive ex situ and in situ management efforts. However, the long-term viability of the species remains under threat. The implementation of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) would contribute to ensure the species viability, but the use of ARTs is limited in this species and there are still important gaps in the knowledge of its physiology. Here, we report the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) and early embryo development in the Iberian lynx using oocytes retrieved post-mortem and cryopreserved spermatozoa. Oocytes from six females were subjected to in vitro maturation using two sets of conditions. In the first series, oocytes incubated in vitro for 24 h, exhibited a very low proportion (0–37 %) reaching metaphase II (MII). Attempted IVF with cryopreserved spermatozoa resulted in no fertilization. In a second series, oocytes were incubated in vitro for 28 h; grade I-II oocytes exhibited 40 % maturation rate (MII), whereas grade III oocytes showed 28 % maturation rate. Matured oocytes from one female were co-incubated with cryopreserved sperm for 18 h resulting in cleavage rates of 39.3 % (grade I–II) and 7.1 % (grade III) and the opportunity to vitrify one blastocyst and six morulae. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using ARTs in this species, validating domestic cat protocols for Iberian lynx gametes, and providing a foundation for further refinement of IVF protocols, embryo cryopreservation, and ultimately, embryo transfer strategies for use in conservation programs.
PB Elsevier
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130637
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/130637
LA eng
NO Priego-González, A., Munoz-Maceda, A., González, R., Rielo, J. A., Gañán, N., Sanchez-Rodriguez, A., Villar-Moya, P., Cantos Rubert, A., Sánchez-Calabuig, M. J., & Roldan, E. R. S. (2026). In vitro embryo production in the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) using oocytes recovered post-mortem and cryopreserved spermatozoa. Theriogenology Wild, 8, 100142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.therwi.2025.100142
NO Contribución de autores:Andrea Priego-González: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Validation, Investigation, Formal analysis. Ana Munoz-Maceda: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Raquel González: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Juan Antonio Rielo: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Natalia Gañán: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Ana Sanchez-Rodriguez: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Pilar Villar-Moya: Writing – review & editing, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Ana Cantos Rubert: Writing – review & editing, Methodology, Investigation. María Jesús Sánchez-Calabuig: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Supervision, Resources, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Formal analysis, Conceptualization. Eduardo R.S. Roldan: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Supervision, Resources, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Formal analysis, Conceptualization.
NO Comunidad de Madrid
NO Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (España)
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
NO Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
NO Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 21 ene 2026