Hormone Treatment Does Not Reliably Induce Spermiation or Mating in Hamilton's Frog from the Archaic Leiopelmatid Lineage

Amidst a global amphibian decline, captive breeding has become an important component of many conservation management programs. Some species fail to readily reproduce in captivity, including leiopelmatid frogs, an archaic lineage endemic to New Zealand. Assisted reproductive technologies can improve the reproductive potential and genetic management of captive programs. Herein we describe efforts to induce spermiation and mating in the threatened Hamilton's frog Leiopelma hamiltoni using a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist and human chorionic gonadotrophin. The spermiation response was poor, with few individuals releasing spermatozoa and a low sperm concentration (mean (+/- s.e.) 27.4 +/- 8.5 x 10(3) spermatozoa mL(-1)) when spermiation was stimulated. The sperm concentration peaked 12-24 h after hormone administration, suggesting this species may be slower to react than other anurans. Spermic urine was present in five males before hormone treatment. The sperm concentration was higher in this group (128.7 +/- 54.9 x 10(3) spermatozoa mL(-1)) than in the hormone-induced males. All spermatozoa observed exhibited no motility or, at most, a limited swaying movement with no forward progression. In separate hormone induction trials with 60 individuals (two males to one female per trial), no mating was exhibited during the 12 h after treatment. Further studies to hormonally stimulate gamete release and mating are needed in leiopelmatids.