education and training
- B. V.Sc. Bachelor of Veterinary Science, Madras Veterinary College, India
- M.S., University of Maryland, College Park
- Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park
Pukazhenthi, Budhan Fellowship Advisor Staff of National Zoological Park
Ungulate reproduction and conservation; gamete biology (sperm, eggs and embryos); cryobiology; assisted reproduction in endangered species, in situ conservation and training
Background And Education
Research And Grants
co-principal investigator on
investigator on
- Influence of Ex Situ Management on Gut Microbiota of the Southern Black Rhinoceros awarded by The International Rhino Foundation 2019 -
- Cryobiology of Asian Elephant Sperm - Impact of Seminal Plasma on Motility and Development of Cryopreservation Techniques awarded by Feld Entertainment, Inc
- MicroRNAs as Novel Biomarkers in Maternal Serum and Urine awarded by Morris Animal Foundation
- Role of Gut Microbiota in Health and Disease Sensitivity of the Black Rhinoceros awarded by The International Rhino Foundation
Publications
selected publications
-
article
- Breeding Centers, Private Ranches, and Genomics for Creating Sustainable Wildlife Populations. Bioscience. 69:928-943. 2020
- Chromosomal-level genome assembly of the scimitar-horned oryx: Insights into diversity and demography of a species extinct in the wild. Molecular Ecology Resources. 2020
- Comparison of genomic diversity and structure of sable antelope (Hippotragus niger) in zoos, conservation centers, and private ranches in North America. Evolutionary Applications. 2020
- Dimethyl sulfoxide maintains structure and function of cryopreserved equine endometrial explants. Cryobiology. 91:90-96. 2020
- Effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate on cryopreserved sheep testicular explants cultured in vitro. Theriogenology. 128:184-192. 2020
- Gut microbiome differences between wild and captive black rhinoceros - implications for rhino health. Scientific Reports. 9:7570. 2020
- Influence of Metabolic Status and Diet on Early Pregnant Equine Histotroph Proteome: Preliminary Findings. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 88:Article 102938. 2020
- Linkage between fecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolites, spermaturia, body weight and onset of puberty in male African lions (Panthera leo). Plos One. 14:1-16. 2020
- Whole Genome Sequencing and Re-sequencing of the Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger): A Resource for Monitoring Diversity in ex Situ and in Situ Populations. G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics. 9:1785-1793. 2020
- Colloid centrifugation of fresh semen improves post-thaw quality of cryopreserved dromedary camel spermatozoa. Animal Reproduction Science. 2018
- Cryopreservation effects on sperm function and fertility in two threatened crane species. Cryobiology. 2018
- Dietary Supplementation of Algae-derived Omega-3 Fatty Acids Influences Endometrial and Conceptus Transcript Profiles in Mares. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 62:66-75. 2018
- Pretreatment with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins prevents loss of motility associated proteins during cryopreservation of addra gazelle (Nanger dama ruficollis) spermatozoa. Cryobiology. 81:74-80. 2018
- Non-invasive hormonal characterization of the ovarian cycle, pregnancy, and seasonal anestrus of the female addra gazelle (Nanger dama ruficollis). Theriogenology. 2017
- Conservation of spermatogonial stem cell marker expression in undifferentiated felid spermatogonia. Theriogenology. 86:1022-1035. 2016
- Evaluation of cholesterol- treated dromedary camel sperm function by heterologous IVF and AI. Animal Reproduction Science. 174:20-28. 2016
- Influence of cooling and thawing conditions and cryoprotectant concentration on frozen-thawed survival of white-naped crane (Antigone vipio) spermatozoa. Cryobiology. 73:209-215. 2016
- Pretreatment of Addra gazelle (Nanger dama ruficollis) spermatozoa with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins improves cryosurvival. Cryobiology. 73:388-395. 2016
- Reproductive seasonality and sperm cryopreservation in the male tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus). Theriogenology. 86:914-923. 2016
- Use of colloid single layer centrifugation for dromedary camel semen: Effect of initial dilution and comparison of two colloids on sperm quality parameters. Animal Reproduction Science. 169:123. 2016
- 130 Effect of dietary omega-3 supplementation on equine endometrial and embryonic gene expression. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 35:438-439. 2015
- A protocol to correct for intra- and interspecific variation in tail hair growth to align isotope signatures of segmentally cut tail hair to a common time line: Aligning isotope signatures of hair segments to the correct time line. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry. 29:1047-1054. 2015
- Characterization of Ovarian Steroid Patterns in Female African Lions (Panthera leo), and the Effects of Contraception on Reproductive Function. Plos One. 10. 2015
- Cholesterol addition aids the cryopreservation of dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) spermatozoa. Theriogenology. 83:168-174. 2015
- Multi-institutional survey of social, management, husbandry and environmental factors for the SSP African lion Panthera leo population: examining the effects of a breeding moratorium in relation to reproductive success. International Zoo Yearbook. 49:198-213. 2015
- Slow freezing, but not vitrification supports complete spermatogenesis in cryopreserved, neonatal sheep testicular xenografts. Plos One. 10. 2015
- Improved Sperm Cryosurvival in Diluents Containing Amides versus Glycerol in the Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii). Cryobiology. 68:205-214. 2014
- A review of the reproductive biology and breeding management of tapirs (Tapirus sp.). Integrative Zoology. 8:18-34. 2013
- Fundamental Studies of the Reproductive Biology of the Endangered Persian Onager (Equus hemionus onager) Result in First Wild Equid Offspring from Artificial Insemination. Biology of reproduction. 89:41. 2013
- Lactotransferrin in Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Seminal Plasma Correlates with Semen Quality. Plos One. 8:e71033. 2013
- Analysis of Sertoli cell efficiency allows the differentiation between two fundamentally different forms of feline teratospermia. Theriogenology. 79:261-266. 2012
- Glucocorticoid response to changes in enclosure size and human proximity in the Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager). Stress. 15:52-61. 2012
- Molecular Markers of Spermatogonial Stem Cells in the Domestic Cat. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 47:256-260. 2012
- Oral Progestin Priming Increases Ovarian Sensitivity to Gonadotropin Stimulation and Improves Luteal Function in the Cat. Biology of reproduction. 87:137. 2012
- Pretreatment of Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) spermatozoa with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins and glycerol addition at 4°C improves cryosurvival. Reprod.Fertil.Dev.. 24:1134-1142. 2012
- Cryopreserving endangered species gametes, embryos and gonadal tissue: Challenges, successes and future directions. Cryobiology. 63:308-309. 2011
- Ejaculate Traits and Sperm Cryopreservation in the Endangered Baird's Tapir (Tapirus bairdii). Journal of Andrology. 32:260-270. 2011
- Liquid Semen Storage in Elephants (Elephas maximus and Loxodonta africana): Species Differences and Storage Optimization. Journal of Andrology. 32:420-431. 2011
- The competence of germinal vesicle oocytes is unrelated to nuclear chromatin configuration and strictly depends on cytoplasmic quantity and quality in the cat model. Human Reproduction. 26:2165-2177. 2011
- Oocyte quality and estradiol supplementation affect in vitro maturation success in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Theriogenology. 73:112-119. 2010
- Progestin exposure before gonadotropin stimulation improves embryo development after in vitro fertilization in the domestic cat. Biology of reproduction. 83:558-567. 2010
- Reduced Germ Cell Apoptosis During Spermatogenesis in the Teratospermic Domestic Cat. Journal of Andrology. 30:460-468. 2009
- Improved Quality of Cryopreserved Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) Spermatozoa after Centrifugation Through Accudenz. Journal of Andrology. 30:298. 2008
- Influence of cooling rate on the ability of frozen-thaw spermatozoa to bind to heterologous zona pellucida as assessed by competitive in vitro binding assays in the Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and Tigrina (Leopardus tigrinus). Theriogenology. 69:204-211. 2008
- Effect of donor age on success of spermatogenesis in feline testis xenografts. Reprod.Fertil.Dev.. 19:869-876. 2007
- Ejaculate traits in the Namibian cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): influence of age, season, and captivity. Reprod.Fertil.Dev.. 19:370-382. 2007
-
chapter
Other
Location
- National Zoological Park SI Department
Smithsonian Conservation Commons Biography
- The primary goal of Budhan Pukazhenthi's research is the conservation of critically endangered species including ungulates and elephants in captivity and in the wild. His research interests include understanding the fundamental reproductive biology of rare and endangered species, mitigating infertility, developing assisted reproductive technologies (artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer), and gamete and embryo cryopreservation. Recently his team produced the world's first Przewalski's horse foal via artificial insemination. He is also studying the reproductive biology of African lions in an effort to enhance reproduction in zoological institutions and developing innovative technologies for preservation of male and female gametes and reproductive tissues (testes and ovarian tissue cryopreservation).
