Comparative analyses of semen and endocrine characteristics of free-living versus captive jaguars (Panthera onca)

Comparative analyses of semen and endocrine characteristics of free-living versus captive jaguars (Panthera onca)

Semen and blood samples were obtained from free-living (n = 6) and captive (n = 8) jaguars (Panthera onca) to compare reproductive characteristics between the two populations. Semen samples were analysed for volume (ml), percentage of motile spermatozoa, rate of forward progression (0-5), concentrat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Reproduction (Cambridge, England) Vol. 122; no. 5; pp. 745 - 751
Main Authors: Morato, RG, Conforti, VA, Azevedo, FC, Jacomo, AT, Silveira, L, Sana, D, Nunes, AL, Guimaraes, MA, Barnabe, RC
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Colchester Society for Reproduction and Fertility 01-11-2001
Portland
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Wild - physiology
Animals, Zoo - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Body Weight
Carnivora - physiology
Electric Stimulation
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Immobilization
Male
Mammalian male genital system
Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
Morphology. Physiology
Radioimmunoassay - methods
Specimen Handling - methods
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility - physiology
Spermatozoa - cytology
Spermatozoa - physiology
Statistics, Nonparametric
Testis - anatomy & histology
Testosterone - blood
Vertebrates: reproduction
Fissipedia
Carnivora
Vertebrata
Reproduction
Mammalia
Semen
Captivity
Wild animal
Comparative study
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Summary:Semen and blood samples were obtained from free-living (n = 6) and captive (n = 8) jaguars (Panthera onca) to compare reproductive characteristics between the two populations. Semen samples were analysed for volume (ml), percentage of motile spermatozoa, rate of forward progression (0-5), concentration (10(6) ml(-1)), total sperm count (10(6)) and sperm morphology. Serum testosterone concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. Although ejaculate volume was greater in captive jaguars (n = 47 samples) than in free-living jaguars (n = 7 samples) (P < 0.05), the free-living jaguars produced more total spermatozoa (59.3 +/- 12.8 versus 152.0 +/- 88.0 x 10(6), respectively; not significant) with better viability and forward progression (2.8 +/- 0.1 versus 3.5 +/- 0.2, respectively; P < 0.05) and more spermatozoa with normal morphology (73.5 +/- 3.9 versus 5.0 +/- 1.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). Serum testosterone concentrations were similar for captive and free-living male jaguars (3.1 +/- 0.7 and 2.1 +/- 0.8 ng ml(-1), respectively). In , the data showed that semen may be collected successfully from free-living jaguars and evaluated under field conditions to establish normative reproductive values in this species. The results also indicate that jaguars maintained in zoos show inferior seminal characteristics compared with free-living animals.
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ISSN:1470-1626
1741-7899
DOI:10.1530/rep.0.1220745