Main description:

It is a genuine honor and a privilege of distinction to provide the foreword for the proceedings that follow. This marvelous symposium reflects the unique qualities of its two principal sponsors. Whenever the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center is involved in matters of science, we see a consistent record of exceptional quality in both the work is unequaled and the people who do it. Likewise, Serono Symposia, USA in assuring a world-class speakers' forum, utterly without taint of commercial influence. The proceedings published herein are a remarkable testimony, not only to the contributors, but to Drs. Brenner, Wolf, Stouffer, and Burnett, who have shepherded its conception, presentation, and publication. Readers will notice immediately one of the universal strengths of this total composition; that is, the diversity of investigational interests among attendees. Presentations on the core topic of primate in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer were joined by specialist presentations in related areas, including human-assisted reproductive technologies, reproductive physiology of the great apes, sperm biology, implantation mechanisms, cryobiology, coculture systems for embryogenesis, micromanipulation technologies, and genetic diagnosis of heritable diseases in the pre embryo. Even though pro-fertility issues understandably dominated this forum, there was significant attention given to fertility-control research, especially the role of primates in this endeavor (more on this subject below).

Contents:

I. IVF in Primates.- 1. State of the Art and Future Directions in Human IVF.- 2. IVF in Nonhuman Primates: Current Status and Future Directions.- 3. Assisted Reproduction in the Great Apes.- 4. Assisted Reproduction in New World Primates.- 5. IVF-ET in Old World Monkeys.- II. Gamete Biology/Ovarian Physiology.- 6. Sperm-Zona Pellucida Interaction in Macaques.- 7. Nonhuman Primate Oocyte Biology: Environmental Influences on Development.- 8. Stimulation of Follicle and Oocyte Development in Macaques for IVF Procedures.- III. Preimplantation/Implantation Biology.- 9. Overview of the Morphology of Implantation in Primates.- 10. Physiology of Implantation in Primates.- 11. Interactions Between the Embryo and Uterine Endometrium During Implantation and Early Pregnancy in the Baboon (Papio anubis).- 12. Regulation of Human Cytotrophoblast Invasion.- 13. Expression and Binding of Transforming Growth Factor sss in the Mouse Embryo and Uteros During the Periimplantation Period.- IV. Gamete/Embryo Manipulation.- 14. Cryobiology of Gametes and Embryos from Nonhuman Primates.- 15. Application of Micromanipulation in the Human.- 16. Embryo Coculture and the Regulation of Blastocyst Formationb In Vitro.- 17. Proteoglycans as Modulators of Embryo-Uterine Interactions.- 18. A Primatologist's Perspective on Assisted Reproduction for Nonhuman Primates.- V. Gamete/Embryo Applications.- 19. Nuclear Transfer in Mammals.- 20. Assisted Reproduction in the Propagation Management of the Endangered Lion-Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus).- 21. Genetic Abnormalities in the Human Preimplantation Embryo.- 22. Intra-Acrosomal Contraceptive Vaccine Immunogen SP-10 in Human, Macaque, and Baboon.- Author Index.