Reproduction in Agouti (Dasyprocta Spp.): a Review of Reproductive Physiology for Developing Assisted Reproductive Techniques
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DOI: 10.21451/1984-3143-AR2018-0058 Anim. Reprod., v.15, n.4, p.1181-1192, Oct./Dec. 2018 Reproduction in agouti (Dasyprocta spp.): A review of reproductive physiology for developing assisted reproductive techniques Érica Camila Gurgel Praxedes, Gislayne Christianne Xavier Peixoto, Andréia Maria da Silva, Alexandre Rodrigues Silva£ Laboratory on Animal Germplasm Conservation, Universidade Federal Rural do Semi Árido (UFERSA), BR 110, Km 47, Costa and Silva, Mossoró, RN, Brazil. Abstract specificities of agouti as well as the development and improvement of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) Dasyprocta spp. (agouti) include wild rodents aimed at conservation, multiplication, and exploitation with highlighted ecological and economic importance, of their reproductive potential under captivity. and are considered experimental models for endangered hystricognath rodents. Of late, development of General characteristics of male and female agouti techniques to conserve their genetic material as well as the formation of biobanks is increasing. In this context, The term agouti, also called Dasyprocta spp., this review describes the main advances in the refers to the third largest frugivorous rodent (Henry, knowledge of the reproductive morphophysiological 1999). The Dasyprocta genus comprises approximately specificities of agouti as well as the development and 13 species of agouti, viz., D. azarae, D. coibae, D. improvement of assisted reproductive techniques aimed croconota, D. fuliginosa, D. guamara, D. iacki, D. at conservation, multiplication, and exploitation of their kalinowskii, D. leporina, D. mexicana, D. prymnolopha, reproductive potential under captivity. D. punctata, D. ruatanica, and D. variegata (IUCN, 2018). The main differences found between these Keywords: biobank, rodentia, wildlife. species are related to coat coloration and their conservation status (IUCN, 2018; Table 1). However, Introduction some species are not easily recognizable owing to taxonomic limitations and absence of any modern Rodents account for the largest order of taxonomic revision (Emmons and Feer, 1997). mammals in the world and are found in the most varied Cytogenetic studies are essential because each species is types of habitats (Emmons and Feer, 1997). Of these, characterized by a typical karyotype, which may differ agouti (Fig. 1), a hystricognath rodent, Dasyprocta spp. from others with respect to form, size, and number of or Dasyprocta aguti, is found throughout the area of chromosomes (Lima, 2000). By cytogenetic analysis of Neotropical America and is distributed into 13 different 30 animals of the genus Dasyprocta (D. prymnolopha, species that constitute the genus Dasyprocta (IUCN, D. leporina, and D. fuliginosa), Ramos et al. (2003) 2018). identified that the individuals presented two cellular Agouti is currently suggested as an lineages, with 2n = 64 and 2n = 65 chromosomes. The experimental model for other species of hystricognath karyotypes showed similarity, and chromosomal rodents that are vulnerable to extinction (Costa and polymorphism was not detected by Giemsa Martins, 2008) because they can easily adapt to conventional staining and G banding. All analyzed captivity and, thus, exhibit prolificity, precocity, and specimens presented a diploid number of 64 or 65 relatively short gestation period (Hosken and Silveira, chromosomes. This variation was observed with a 2001). These characteristics facilitate studying their frequency of approximately 70% in cells with 2n = 64 physiology and exploring their zootechnical potential and 30% in cells with 2n = 65. There was no variation (Pachaly et al., 1999; Ribeiro et al., 2008). in the pattern of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in Owing to their diverse and substantial the species studied, which was used to verify distribution, these wild rodents represent an important chromosomal polymorphism (Ramos et al., 2003). protein source for human consumption (Lopes et al., Agouti are distributed over a wide area of 2004) as well as for obtaining skin, leather, and bristle Neotropical America and are found in a great diversity (Silva et al., 2010). Moreover, they are important seed of habitats from the south of Mexico, through Central dispersers and maintain the ecological balance (Silva et America, to Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay al., 2013). (Deutsch and Puglia, 1988). They exhibit an Still, with their economic and ecological extraordinary variety of ecological adaptations, relevance, agouti present a potential market that justifies supporting existence in the coldest and more torrid the research focused on its conservation (Souza et al., climates. They can thrive in regions with the highest 2003) to improve reproduction management of the floristic cover at high altitudes (Emmons and Feer, commercial breed (Bonaudo et al., 2005). In this 1997). context, this review describes the main advances in Agouti are medium-sized animals, weighing research on the reproductive morphophysiological between 2 and 5 kg, with an average height of 23 cm _________________________________________ £Corresponding author: [email protected] Received: April 19, 2018 Copyright © The Author(s). Published by CBRA. Accepted: July 31, 2018 This is an Open Access article under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0 license) Praxedes et al. Reproduction in agouti (Dasyprocta spp.). and length of 50 cm, measured from the muzzle to the carnivores, thereby maintaining the environmental base of the tail, with the tail being generally bristle. The balance (Hosken and Silveira, 2001). In addition, agouti head and thorax show fur colors ranging from gray to are economically important because they enable the bright orange covered by long, harsh, and strong pelage, commercialization of skin, leather, and bristle (Silva et with predominating brown and light or dark yellowish al., 2010). Yet, to their economic and ecological or golden colors. The top of the head, neck, and middle importance, because of their stable world population, of the back between the shoulders are sometimes dark they can be used as experimental models for endangered with long bristles; the ears are small and bare, similar to agouti, such as D. ruatanica, D. coibae, and D. the tail that is almost vestigial (Smythe, 1987; Emmons mexicana (IUCN, 2018). and Feer, 1997). In addition, they possess four long and Because they are considered as important curved incisor teeth, whose macroscopic characteristics protein sources, agouti have been used for human reveal structure similar to that of other mammals consumption. Their meat is white, rich in nutrients, soft, (Oliveira et al., 2012). Between males and females there tasty, and an excellent source of calcium and is no sexual dimorphism; therefore, to differentiate phosphorus, with low caloric value (each 100 g of meat them, it is necessary to perform sexing through has approximately 120 Kcal) (Barbosa, 2010). The palpation, where the difference between the male’s commercialization of agouti meat provides low market prominent penis and the female’s two vaginal folds, value, requiring little manpower. The system of forming the vulva, is easily observed (Guimarães et al., fattening and development of matrices are two activities 2009). that can be practiced at the same time, potentiating These animals have adapted to terrestrial life producer profit. According to some researchers, the by a reduction in functional fingers and a vestigial meat of these animals is as appreciated as paca meat, the thumb, with four digits on the forelimbs and three on most sought-after in the market among the wild species the hindlimbs. Furthermore, the claws of the forelimbs (Barbosa, 2010). For example, in Trinidad and Tobago, are slightly arched, indicating the ability to excavate, and Central America, agouti meat is considered a spice; although they are not true diggers. The hindlimbs are therefore, this animal has been intensively hunted much larger than forelimbs, enabling them to jump (Roopchand, 2002). (Oliveira et al., 2012). Breeding agouti under captivity is an These animals have diurnal and crepuscular alternative for its preservation in the natural habitat and habits, and when threatened, they may present nocturnal allows the exploration of their zootechnical potential, habits. They are naturally herbivorous feeding on thereby allowing studies on their physiological leaves, roots, flowers, fungi, seeds, and, particularly characteristics (Pachaly et al., 1999; Lopes et al., 2004). fruits found in the soil (Santos et al., 2005). In case of However, studies with the appropriate methods of fruit shortage, agouti spend less time resting and more productive and reproductive management of wild time foraging, looking for seeds that have been buried animals are limited, which could reflect in higher previously (Smythe, 1987). Such behavior of digging, productivity, enabling the preservation of some species hiding, and seeking, also observed in Myoprocta spp., is by reduction in predatory hunting (Lopes et al., 2004). essential for the dispersion of plant species (Forget and Hence, it is necessary to apply captive breeding Milleron, 1991). Thus, agouti act on aggregate programs and ART as tools to ensure the increase in distribution of tree seeds that is secondary to the action their reproductive potential and conservation of their of long-distance dispersal animals, such as tapirs genetic material (Comizzoli et al., 2001), allowing the (Tapirus terrestris) (Lange and Schmidt, 2007). These increase in their zootechnical