Stress assessment in captive greylag geese (Anser anser).

Chronic stress--or, more appropriately, "allostatic overload"--may be physiologically harmful and can cause death in the most severe cases. Animals in captivity are thought to be particularly vulnerable to allostatic overload due to artificial housing and group makeup. Here we attempted to determine if captive greylag geese (Anser anser), housed lifelong in captivity, showed elevated levels of immunoreactive corticosterone metabolites (CORT) and ectoparasites in dropping samples as well as some hematological parameters (hematocrit, packed cell volume, total white blood cell count [TWBC], and heterophil:lymphocyte ratio [H:L]). All of these have been measured as indicators of chronic stress. Furthermore, we correlated the various stress parameters within individuals. Captive geese showed elevated values of CORT and ectoparasites relative to a wild population sampled in the vicinity of the area where the captive flock is held. The elevated levels, however, were by no means at a pathological level and fall well into the range of other published values in wild greylag geese. We found no correlations between any of the variables measured from droppings with any of the ones collected from blood. Among the blood parameters, only the H:L negatively correlated with TWBC. We examine the problem of inferring allostatic overload when measuring only 1 stress parameter, as there is no consistency between various measurements taken. We discuss the different aspects of each of the parameters measured and the extensive individual variation in response to stress as well as the timing at which different systems respond to a stressor and what is actually measured at the time of data collection. We conclude that measuring only 1 stress parameter often is insufficient to evaluate the well-being of both wild and captively housed animals and that collecting behavioral data on stress might be a suitable addition.

[Highly purified FSH for stimulation of down regulated cycles in the in vitro fertilization program]. / Hochgereinigtes FSH zur Stimulation downregulierter Zyklen im IVF-Programm.

Highly purified FSH (Fertinorm HP) was used for follicle stimulation during one cycle of IVF in each of 112 women. In all cases, stimulation was begun with 150 IU FSH per day s.c. after pituitary down-regulation with a GnRH analogue in a Long protocol. Sixteen (14.3%) of the 112 treatment cycles started were stopped before follicle aspiration. The reasons for stopping stimulation were elevated progesterone values with premature luteinisation in 9 (8.0%) patients, inadequate follicle stimulation in 4 (3.6%) cases and threatened overstimulation in 3 (2.7%) cases. The mean duration of stimulation was 11.8 days with 7.8 oocytes obtained per aspiration by the transvaginal rute. Embryo transfer was possible in 77 (68.7%) patients, with a mean of 2.3 embryos per transfer. A total of 23 clinical pregnancies resulted, with a pregnancy rate of 20.5% and 29.9% per cycle and embryo transfer, respectively. There were three cases of multiple pregnancy (13.0%), two (8.7%) miscarriages occurred and one patient (4.3%) had a tubal pregnancy. The rate of successful pregnancies was thus 17.9% per cycle. Five patients (5.2%) required treatment for overstimulation. There were not other treatment complications. These results show that highly purified FSH can also be used successfully in IVF after pituitary down-regulation. The remaining endogenous LH activity in these cases may be regarded as sufficient for follicular development and steroid synthesis. Highly purified FSH can therefore be used for all stimulation protocols in patients with normal gonadotrophin levels. The relatively low rate of miscarriages with this treatment is noteworthy.

Transvaginal gamete intra-fallopian transfer and embryo intra-fallopian transfer.

This study describes the conduct and results of a recently developed technique for transvaginal catheterization of the Fallopian tube in order to transfer gametes or early embryos. Transvaginal gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (TV-GIFT) was performed in 46 patients after stimulation with human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and transvaginal oocyte retrieval. This resulted in 11 (23.9%) pregnancies. Eight patients delivered healthy children, including one set of twins. Two patients had abortions at 8 and 11 weeks of gestation and one had an ectopic pregnancy. In a first series of 11 women, oocytes were fertilized in vitro and a maximum of three embryos at the 2- to 8-cell stages were transferred into one tube. Three of the 11 cycles with tubal embryo-stage transfer' (TV-TEST) resulted in clinical pregnancy.

[Development of a method for transuterine gamete transfer--initial results]. / Entwicklung einer Methode zum transuterinen Gametentransfer (GT)--erste Ergebnisse.

A new method for gamete intra fallopian transfer is described by which the tubes can be catheterised via vagina, through the endometrial cavity, in order to place gametes directly to the ampullary portion of the fallopian tube without the need for an operation or anaesthesia. In a first series two clinical pregnancies resulted from 8 transuterine transfers.

[Initial experiences with transvaginal vagino-sonographically controlled follicle aspiration in an in vitro fertilization program]. / Erste Erfahrungen mit der transvaginalen vaginosonographisch gesteuerten Follikelaspiration im IVF-Programm.

From March to May 1987 41 sonographically guided follicular punctures have been performed vaginally. Altogether 208 follicles were aspirated and 149 oocytes (71.7%) could be found. No complications like of bleeding or pelvic inflammatory disease have been observed after puncture. The sonographically guided aspiration technique has proved to possess several advantages in respect of its applicability.