The Roe Deer
Welcome to the
Roe Deer Research Group
Aberdeen
Scotland
United Kingdom
The female European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) exhibits the reproductive strategy of delayed implantation. The objectives of this research is to more fully understand this phenomena. By understanding reproduction in the roe deer, the long-term future of this beautiful animal is assured
Click here to read about
Reproduction in the female roe
deer
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For detailed information on roe deer ecology go to
The
Ecology of the European Roe Deer
For
Photos of European Roe Deer Click here
For sources of
information about the ecology of all British deer species
try these
Links:
If you are considering zoology as a career contact Zoology, University of Aberdeen
A Puzzle Solved
UNIQUE PROTEIN FOUND IN ROE DEER EMBRYOS
Reproduction in female European roe deer has
been a bit of a mystery for over 200 years. She has not given up her secrets
easily. The roe deer has the reproductive strategy of embryonic diapause
(delayed implantation), the rut takes place in late July or early August and
she gives birth the following late May or early June. Between the time of the
rut and late December the embryo remains at about the 30-cell stage and is
in a state of diapause. The embryo (biologically known as a blastocyst
at this developmental stage) is tiny, less than 1mm in diameter,
during the period of embryonic diapause.
In late December or early January the
blastocyst reactivates, grows rapidly and forms a placental attachment to the
mother and normal fetal growth follows. What no one knew was what triggered the
embryo to reactivate, as roe does do not have any of the usual hormonal signals
associated with the end of the period of embryonic diapause found in other
mammals.
By using the latest scientific techniques
(similar to DNA sequencing) the Department of Zoology at the University of
Aberdeen, has solved the puzzle. The blastocyst sends out a 'signal' to its mother
with a protein called PAG (Pregnancy Associated Glycoprotein) unique to the roe
deer; i.e. the genetic profile of the roe deer PAG is very different from
PAGs found in other similar species. To be more technical, PAGs
were first discovered in cows and sheep in the 1990's and their properties
show that they belong to the aspartic proteinase gene family, are highly
polymorphous (genetically very adaptable and constantly changing their DNA
profile), are released from trophoblast cells (these are a thin layer of cells
which surround the blastocyst and eventually form the placenta) and
bind to specific cell surface receptors on maternal target cells on the
endometrium in the uterus. The role for PAGs in trophoblast cells had not
previously been defined, basically no one knew what they were for, because
in other species, recognition that she is pregnant is the result of the
mother sending out an hormonal signal (usually progesterone) and the
embryo replying, again with a hormonal signal. In roe deer the doe does not
send out a maternal signal to say 'that's delayed implantation over, time
you (the embryo) woke up' which is why it has been so hard to find out
what actually happens. Our study demonstrates that embryonic programming (the
embryo has a built in 'clock') initiates the transcription of specific
genes in the inner cell mass of the embryo (these are the cells which will
eventually form the deer). These specific genes send out messenger
RNA and this directs synthesis of rdPAG in the
trophoblast. The roe deer specific PAG is released from the
trophoblast and it triggers the maternal response by targeting endometrial
(uterine) receptors. As soon as the doe has received this message from the
blastocyst a whole 'cascade' effect is triggered of maternal hormones
(oestrogens), which starts off the second phase of her pregnancy. The embryo
rapidly elongates and then forms a placental attachment to the endometrium and
normal fetal growth follows for the next five months.
A puzzle resolved and as always the European
roe deer does it differently than any other mammal. It is indeed a unique
animal.
To see what a reactivating roe deer blastocyst looks like go to Embryo Reactivation
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RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Roe Deer Research Group
____________________________
Vol: 51: 1 2005
A
pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) unique to the roe deer (Capreolus
capreolus) and
its role in the
termination of embryonic diapause and maternal recognition of pregnancy
Roger T Lambert
School of
Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen
6th
European Roe Deer Meeting
Biology Department, University of Minho, Portugal 23rd
April – 26th April 2003.
A pregnancy
associated glycoprotein (PAG) unique to the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
and its role in the termination of embryonic diapause and maternal recognition
of pregnancy
Roger T. Lambert1,
Paul A. Racey1and Cheryl J. Ashworth2
1Department of
Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
2Department of
Applied Physiology, Scottish Agricultural College, Bucksburn Aberdeen AB21 9YA,
UK
Click to Read Abstract
The pre-oestrus signal, variations in pregnancy length and photoperiod
manipulation of pregnant roe deer does (Capreolus
capreolus)
Roger T. Lambert1,
Paul A. Racey1and Cheryl J. Ashworth2
1Department of
Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
2Department of
Applied Physiology, Scottish Agricultural College, Bucksburn Aberdeen AB21 9YA,
UK
Click to Read Abstract
Journal
of
REPRODUCTION
Vol. 121:6 2001
Temporal
changes in reproductive hormones and conceptus-endometrial interactions during
embryonic diapause and reactivation of the blastocyst in European roe
deer (Capreolus capreolus)
R.T. Lambert1, 2, C.J. Ashworth2, L. Beattie2, F.E. Gebbie 3,
J.S.M. Hutchinson 4,
D.J. Kyle2 and P.A. Racey 1
1Department of Zoology, University of
Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
2 Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn,
Aberdeen, AB21 9SB, UK
3 Department of Applied Physiology, Scottish
Agricultural College, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA, UK
4Department of Agriculture, University of
Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 5UA,
Reproduction(2001) 121:6 pp 863-871ISSN 1470-1626
(c) 2001 Journals
of Reproduction and Fertility
Click to Read Abstract You can also download the complete article as a pdf file CLICK to go to download page
_________________________
5th European Roe Deer Meeting
Instituto Nazionale per la Fauna Selvatica,
Tredozio, Italy, 24 – 27 April 2001
Embryonic Diapause in Roe Deer:
The physiology and endocrinology of the pregnant roe deer between the period of
late embryonic diapause and early fetal growth.
R.T. Lambert , C.J. Ashworth , L.
Beattie , F.E. Gebbie , J.S.M. Hutchinson , D.J. Kyle and P.A.
Racey
___________________________
Society for the Study of Fertility and
Deutsche Gesellschaft Zum Studien Der Fertilitat
Und Sterilitat
Joint Winter Meeting 1998
17th-19th December 1998 at
Aachen, Germany
Temporal changes in reproductive hormones during embryonic diapause and reactivation of the blastocyst in the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
RT Lambert, CJ Ashworth, L Beattie, FE Gebbie, JSM Hutchinson, DJ Kyle andPA Racey.
Abstract published 1998, Journal of Reproduction and
Fertility, 22: 33.
ISSN:0954-0725
Further Publications
Lambert, Roger,
2005 The European roe deer: a unique
mammal, Mammal News No. 141
Lambert, Roger,
2004 Reproduction in European roe
deer, Deer Vol:13 No.4
Lambert, Roger, 2000 Variation in pregnancy length in the European roe deer (Capreolus
capreolus)Deer Vol.11, No.8: 415-416 ISSN 0141 4259
Lambert, Roger, 1999 Reproduction in roe
deer. BBC Wildlife, Vol.15: No. 5
ISSN 0265-3656. BBC
Nature
Lambert, Roger, 1999 Monoestry in the European roe deer and Are pregnant roe kids an illusion? Deer Vol.11, No.2: 67-69 ISSN 0141-4259
Lambert, Roger, 1999 The 4th International
Biology of Deer Congress (Oral Paper: Temporal changes in reproductive hormones
and conceptus-endometrial interactions during delayed implantation in European
roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).
Deer Vol.11, No 1:
9-11 ISSN 0141-4259
Lambert, Roger, 1998 Maternal behaviour in the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) Deer Vol.10, No.10: 613-615 ISSN 0141-4529
Lambert, R. T. et al 1998 Temporal changes in reproductive hormones and
conceptus-endometrial interactions during delayed implantation in the European
roe deer
4th International Deer Biology Congress, Pannon University of Agriculture Faculty of Animal
Science, Kaposv�r, Hungary, 30
June - 4 July 1998
Published 1999.- In: Z.
Zomborszky (ed.) Advances in Deer
Biology, pp
136-139 ISBN: 963-9096-53-9
Research supported by the British
Deer Society
and the University of Aberdeen
The
animals in this study were under veterinary supervision and the greatest care
was taken to ensure no animal was harmed in any way and that their welfare was
of the utmost importance
Contact us at info@roedeer.org.uk
� 2005
Pages last updated: 28
July 2005