The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.


pdf 05. Artificial reproduction using leuprolide acetate in the frog Rana pipiens

616 downloads

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.33256/hj29.2.125130

pp. 125-130

Authors: Laura A. Brannelly, Michel E. B. Ohmer & Corinne L. Richards-Zawacki

Abstract: Procuring offspring from captive animals can be important for research and conservation efforts. Yet, reliable methods for obtaining fertilised eggs are unavailable for many species. In this study, we examined the efficacy of one drug, leuprolide acetate, to induce reproduction (i.e. egg production, tadpole hatching) in the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens. We found that leuprolide acetate successfully induced breeding and larval development in animals that were overwintered in the lab, but not in animals caught during the breeding season. These results indicate that leuprolide acetate can be successful in inducing breeding and fertilisation of frog eggs, but that its effectiveness might be contingent upon length of time in captivity and the animals having undergone an artificial overwintering period in the laboratory prior to induction. Artificial breeding success is species and context dependent; therefore, identifying additional methods effective across taxa will help support species in need of management intervention.

Keywords: Amphibian; Amphibian reproduction; Assisted reproductive technologies; Breeding; Hormone induction; Leuprolide Acetate; Spawning

Download Access:

The latest 8 issues can be downloaded when logged in with a Herpetological Journal subscription membership.

Individual articles can be purchased for download.

Older issues and occasional Open Access articles are available for public download

Submissions:

For further information and submission guidelines please see our Journal Instructions to Authors

pdfBHS Ethics Policy

IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.

 

Search Publications