Conservation of Houbara Bustards using Interspecific Chimeras

Abstract

Embryonic gonadal tissue was dissected individually from Houbara bustard embryos at eight days post-incubation. Houbara bustard gonadal cells containing gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs) were injected into the blood stream of White Leghorn chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) embryos, producing 83/138 surviving male chimeric embryos, of which 35 chimeric roosters reached sexual maturity after 5 months. The incorporation and differentiation of Houbara bustard PGCs in chimeric chicken testis were assessed by PCR with Houbara bustard species-specific primers and 31.3% (5/16) gonads collected from the injected chicken embryos showed the presence of donor Houbara bustard cells. A total of 302 semen samples from 34 chimeric roosters were analyzed and eight were confirmed as germ line chimeras. Semen samples from these eight roosters were used to artificially inseminate three female Houbara bustards. Subsequently, 45 Houbara bustard eggs were obtained and incubated, two of which were fertile. One egg hatched as a male live born Houbara bustard and the other was female but died before hatching.