Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 28, 1995 TAG: 9507280056
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CINCINNATI LENGTH: Medium
Seventeen years after the first human was born through in vitro fertilization, scientists are awaiting the birth of the first test-tube gorilla.
``A lot of times, research goes from animals to humans. In this case ... it came from humans to animals,'' said Betsy Dresser, who is leading the Cincinnati Zoo's project on endangered lowland gorillas.
The zoo announced Tuesday - on the anniversary of the 1978 birth of first test-tube baby Louise Brown - that it has successfully implanted an embryo fertilized outside the womb into a gorilla. The baby is due in December.
The gorilla mother - Mata Hari, also known as Rosie - lives at the Cincinnati Zoo. The father, Masuba, resides at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.
``This is a very significant milestone,'' said Ed Maruska, executive director of the Cincinnati Zoo.
Fewer than 5,000 lowland gorillas are estimated to remain in equatorial Africa. About 325 are in North American zoos and about 800 are in captivity worldwide.
Under Dresser, the Cincinnati Zoo pioneered the transfer of tiger embryos in 1981. Since then, it has worked with elands, bongos, exotic cats and other animals, prompting the attempt with gorillas.
The zoo's research team, which included human fertility experts, began the project last year, first by charting the female gorilla's menstrual cycle and then removing a dozen eggs.
The eggs were fertilized by the male gorilla's sperm in a glass dish. Three embryos were placed in the female gorilla and ultrasound tests earlier this month confirmed the pregnancy.
Mark Rosenthal, curator of mammals at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, said if such experiments continue to succeed, they open up options to all zoological parks that deal with endangered species.
In addition to breeding animals over distances, he said, in vitro fertilization can be used with animals that don't breed because of social problems.
by CNB