| 1. |
- Bonato, Maud, et al.
(författare)
-
Predicting ejaculate quality and libido in male ostriches: Effect of season and age.
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-2232 .- 0378-4320. ; 151:1-2, s. 49-55
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The success of artificial breeding program depends largely on the reproductive performance of males. Male performance can vary with season and age impacting on quality and quantity of semen collected for artificial insemination purposes and therefore fertility of inseminated females. We examined variation in semen output and male libido of seven male ostriches (aged 2-5 years) over a period of 24 months. We collected ejaculates using a dummy female and measured semen characteristics (ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, sperm motility and morphology) and male libido (willingness to mount the dummy). A total of 1006 ejaculates were collected. Across months, the volume of semen (mean±SEM) ranged from 1.03±0.12mL to 1.85±0.07mL, the sperm concentration from 3.21±0.12×10(9)/mL to 4.16±0.74×10(9)/mL, and the number of spermatozoa from 3.42±0.28×10(9) to 7.66±0.47×10(9). The largest volume of ejaculates and the highest number of sperm were collected in spring. Ejaculates with higher number of normal sperm were also collected in spring-early summer, whereas ejaculates with higher numbers of live abnormal and dead sperm were collected in winter. Sperm motility was relatively constant over months, despite a reduction in summer (January-February), while male libido peaked in winter (June-July) and spring (October-November). Furthermore, we observed high individual variation between males for all variables tested, except for motility. These results indicate that collections conducted in spring yield higher number of spermatozoa, when the libido of males is also at a maximum. Therefore in this species seasonal variation in semen quality should be considered in breeding programmes by artificial insemination to maximise fertility.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bonato, Maud, et al.
(författare)
-
The effect of temperature and pH on the motility and viability of ostrich sperm
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-2232 .- 0378-4320. ; 133:1-2, s. 123-128
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As the chemical environment of semen diluents can have a profound effect on sperm quality, we examined the effect of temperature and pH on the motility and viability of sperm in the ostrich. Semen was collected from four males, each male being replicated three times. Ejaculates were diluted and incubated for 10 min at 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C in four different buffers, temperature adjusted at pH 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively. Average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), linearity (LIN), beat cross frequency (BCF) and amplitude of lateral displacement (ALH) were then recorded for each sample using CASA. The viability of sperm was assessed using nigrosin-eosin staining. Sperm incubated at 40 degrees C had higher motility parameters, except for ALH. At 40 degrees C, VAP, VSL and LIN increased with pH while VCL, BCF and ALH were higher for lower pHs. The viability of sperm was not affected by temperature but decreased at pH values > 7. A pH in the neutral range appeared to yield higher quality sperm after in vitro storage at 20 degrees C. However, the effect of different pH levels and temperatures on sperm longevity needs to be investigated further to develop viable ostrich specific diluents. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 3. |
- Dean, Rebecca, et al.
(författare)
-
Male reproductive senescence causes potential for sexual conflict over mating.
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Current Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-9822 .- 1879-0445. ; 20:13, s. 1192-6
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The realization that senescence, age-dependent declines in survival and reproductive performance, pervades natural populations has brought its evolutionary significance into sharper focus. However, reproductive senescence remains poorly understood because it is difficult to separate male and female mechanisms underpinning reproductive success. We experimentally investigated male reproductive senescence in feral fowl, Gallus gallus domesticus, where socially dominant males monopolize access to females and the ejaculates of multiple males compete for fertilization. We detected the signal of senescence on multiple determinants of male reproductive success. The effect of age on status was dependent upon the intensity of intrasexual competition: old males were less likely to dominate male-biased groups where competition is intense but were as likely as young males to dominate female-biased groups. Mating and fertilization success declined sharply with male age largely as a result of population-level patterns. These age-dependent declines translated into sexually antagonistic payoffs: old males fertilized more eggs when they were dominant, but this resulted in females suffering a drastic reduction in fertility. Thus, male senescence causes potential for sexual conflict over mating, and the intensity of this conflict is modulated socially, by the probability of old males dominating reproductive opportunities.
|
|
