Induction of Reproductive Behaviors by Exogenous Hormones in Captive Southern Rocky Mountain Boreal Toads, Anaxyrus boreas boreas

Abstract

Loss of reproductive viability, physiologically and/or behaviorally, can have profound effects on the fitness of a captive population and conservation efforts. The southern rocky mountain (SRM) population of the boreal toad has declined over the past 35 years, making captive breeding necessary to protect and augment the species in the wild. In recent years, a notable reduction in the incidence of amplexus and viable offspring from the captive breeding population has been observed. Hormone treatment protocols to stimulate gamete release in males and females are established in this species and in vitro fertilization has been performed successfully. However, successful hormone stimulation of reproductive behaviors and natural fertilization has not been well documented. During the breeding season of 2012, 24 males and 24 female toads were selected from a population of over 600 captive animals. Both sexes were treated with Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Females were primed twice with 3.7IU/g hCG and then injected with an ovulatory dose (OvD) of 13.5 IU/ g BW (Body weight) hCG and 0.4 g/ g BW GnRH. Males were injected a single time with 10 IU/g BW hCG and 0.4 g/ g BW GnRH, 12 h after females received their OvD. In 2013, knowing the approximate time when females oviposited after hormone treatments, we tested the best time to induce amplexus and spermiation. Males were divided into 4 groups and injected at 4 different times: (a) 12 h before females OvD; (b) at the same time as OvD; (c) 12 h after OvD; (d) control injected with PBS. Results from 2012 indicated that oviposition was solely dependent on females receiving hormone treatments not males. However, in 2013 we found that the duration of amplexus significantly influenced oviposition (P>0.05), and males injected 12 h prior to females spent more time in amplexus than males injected at the same time or 12 h after the females received hormones. Promoting reproductive behaviors and synchronizing gamete deposition continues to be imprecise and may require more than exogenous hormones. The complexity of promoting breeding behaviors may require a closer assessment of the captive environment.