Drews Barbara, Harmann Leanne M, Beehler Leann L, Bell Barbara, Drews Reinhard F, Hildebrandt Thomas B
Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo Biology and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany.
Zoo Biol. 2011 May-Jun;30(3):241-53. doi: 10.1002/zoo.20304. Epub 2010 Jan 13.
The bonobo, Pan paniscus, is one of the most endangered primate species. In the context of the Bonobo Species Survival Plan(®), the Milwaukee County Zoo established a successful breeding group. Although the bonobo serves as a model species for human evolution, no prenatal growth curves are available. To develop growth graphs, the animals at the Milwaukee County Zoo were trained by positive reinforcement to allow for ultrasound exams without restraint. With this method, the well being of mother and fetus were maintained and ultrasound exams could be performed frequently. The ovulation date of the four animals in the study was determined exactly so that gestational age was known for each examination. Measurements of biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL) were used to create growth curves. Prenatal growth of P. paniscus was compared with the data of humans and the common chimpanzee, P. troglodytes. With respect to cranial structures, such as BPD and HC, humans have significant acceleration of growth compared with P. paniscus and P. troglodytes. In P. paniscus, growth of AC was similar to HC throughout pregnancy, whereas in humans AC only reaches the level of HC close to term. Growth rate of FL was similar in humans and the two Pan species until near day 180 post-ovulation. After that, the Pan species FL growth slowed compared with human FL. The newly developed fetal growth curves of P. paniscus will assist in monitoring prenatal development and predicting birth dates of this highly endangered species.
倭黑猩猩（Pan paniscus）是最濒危的灵长类物种之一。在倭黑猩猩物种生存计划（®）的背景下，密尔沃基县动物园建立了一个成功的繁殖群体。尽管倭黑猩猩是人类进化的模式物种，但尚无产前生长曲线。为了绘制生长图表，密尔沃基县动物园的动物通过正强化训练，以允许在无约束的情况下进行超声检查。通过这种方法，可维持母胎的健康，并能频繁进行超声检查。该研究中四只动物的排卵日期被精确确定，以便每次检查时都能知道胎龄。利用双顶径（BPD）、头围（HC）、腹围（AC）和股骨长度（FL）的测量数据来绘制生长曲线。将倭黑猩猩的产前生长情况与人类和普通黑猩猩（Pan troglodytes）的数据进行比较。在颅骨结构方面，如BPD和HC，与倭黑猩猩和普通黑猩猩相比，人类的生长有显著加速。在倭黑猩猩中，整个孕期AC的生长与HC相似，而在人类中，AC直到接近足月时才达到HC的水平。在排卵后第180天左右之前，人类和两种黑猩猩的FL生长速率相似。之后，与人类的FL相比，黑猩猩的FL生长放缓。新绘制的倭黑猩猩胎儿生长曲线将有助于监测这一高度濒危物种的产前发育并预测其出生日期。
