Evaluation of semen characteristics of the species Mazama americana in captivity

In recent years the concept of genomic resource banks has grown as a way of maintaining the genetic variability of populations, while the quality of cryopreservation of the gametes determines the effectiveness of such banks. However, the absence of basic knowledge regarding the physiology of species and their semen characteristics hampers the establishment of reproductive biotechnologies. Thus, this paper aimed to determine certain physicochemical (volume, colour, appearance, pH and osmolarity) and microscopic characteristics (mass movement, motility, vigour, concentration, and sperm morphology and morphometry) of semen of the species Mazama americana. To achieve this, five males of the species were used, and three semen samples per buck (electroejaculation) were collected at intervals of 2 weeks. The volume, pH and osmolarity of the ejaculate were 0.39 ± 0.14 mL, 6.90 ± 0.74 and 297.74 ± 19.10 mOsm/kg, respectively, while the values obtained for mass movement, motility, vigour and concentration were 3.33 ± 0.82; 69.6 ± 8.92%; 3.53 ± 0.50, and 244.07 ± 98.65 × 107/mL, respectively. Regarding the colour of the ejaculate, five samples were classified as ivory, two as yellowish, two as whitish and six as white. Regarding appearance, seven samples were considered creamy and eight, milky. Morphology was analysed in a humid chamber under phase contrast microscopy and 73.50 ± 5.57% of cells presented normal morphology, 8.37 ± 3.15% presented major defects and 18.13 ± 6.46% presented minor defects. To determine sperm morphometry, an optical microscope (Leica DM 5000B) and the Leica Qwin image analyser program were used, resulting in 8.09 ± 0.40, 4.65 ± 0.30, 2.81 ± 0.44 and 30.25 ± 3.02 μm for length, largest width, smallest width and area, respectively.

[1]  J. Duarte,et al.  Cryopreservation of red brocket deer semen (Mazama americana): comparison between three extenders. , 2012, Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine : official publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.

[2]  Fernando de Oliveira,et al.  Revista Brasileira de , 2011 .

[3]  J. Ragle,et al.  IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , 2010 .

[4]  W. D. Moraes,et al.  Caractersticas reprodutivas de veado-boror-do-sul ou veado-mo-curta (Mazama nana) , 2009 .

[5]  Carlos Eurico Fernandes,et al.  Alterações na morfologia espermática em touros de corte com e sem suplementação de zinco na mistura mineral , 2009 .

[6]  N. F. Versiani,et al.  Annual variations in fecal androgen metabolites and antler cycle of captive red brocket bucks (Mazama americana) in southeast Brazil , 2009, European Journal of Wildlife Research.

[7]  P. de Paz,et al.  Extender osmolality and sugar supplementation exert a complex effect on the cryopreservation of Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) epididymal spermatozoa. , 2007, Theriogenology.

[8]  P. de Paz,et al.  A pilot study on post-thawing quality of Iberian red deer spermatozoa (epididymal and electroejaculated) depending on glycerol concentration and extender osmolality. , 2006, Theriogenology.

[9]  J. M. B. Duarte Coleta, conservação e multiplicação de recursos genéticos em animais silvestres: o exemplo dos cervídeos , 2005 .

[10]  B. Colenbrander,et al.  The effect of different extenders on post-thaw sperm survival, acrosomal integrity and longevity in cryopreserved semen of Formosan Sika deer and Formosan Sambar deer. , 2004, Theriogenology.

[11]  G. Evans,et al.  Storage of semen and artificial insemination in deer. , 2000, Animal reproduction science.

[12]  W. Holt,et al.  Role of reproductive technologies and genetic resource banks in animal conservation. , 1999, Reviews of reproduction.

[13]  R. Oko,et al.  Abnormal Morphology of Bovine Spermatozoa , 1991 .

[14]  W. Bielański,et al.  Morphology of spermatozoa in semen from stallions of normal fertility. , 1979, Journal of reproduction and fertility. Supplement.

[15]  E. Blom [The ultrastructure of some characteristic sperm defects and a proposal for a new classification of the bull spermiogram (author's transl)]. , 1973, Nordisk veterinaermedicin.