Avaliação andrológica e criopreservação de sêmen de pumas (Puma concolor Linnaeus, 1771) adultos / Andrologic evaluation and cryopreservation of adult cougars (Puma concolor Linnaeus, 1771) semen

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

The wild felines is one of the most endangered species of the world and its population is affected by some factors that vary geographically because of the alduteration of their habitat, food available, strong hunt pressure or even the low population density. Assisted reproduction techniques such as gametes cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization are fundamental for the conservation as they contributes to restoring genetic vigor and makes possible to transfer genetics sources without moving the animals itself. The aim of this study is collect semen from cougar (Puma concolor), describe its physics and morphologics characteristics and also evaluate its frozen capacity using two extenders with TRIS- citrate and egg yolk were evaluated, one with 5% of glycerol and the other with 7.5%. Five captive adult cougars from Mato Grosso do Suls Rehabilitation Center Brazil (CRAS-MS) were used. The anesthetic protocol was an association of ketamine (10 mg/kg) and xilazine (1.2 mg/kg). Semen collection was done through electroejaculation method with a maximum of four series of 10 stimuli with 16 Volts. Before with collection the urine was collected and the bladder was washed with sterile physiologic solution. The semen samples were evaluated using the following parameters: physics aspects (color and smell), volume, concentration, morphology, sperm progressive status, sperm motility. The last two parameters were used to calculate the sperm motility index. The semen samples were packed in 0.25 ml straws, cooled at a rate 0.55C/min during two hours (one for de cooling and one in equilibrium) and finely frozen at a rate 5.8C/min. The thawing was carried through immersion in water at 37C during 30 seconds. The post thawed samples were evaluated using the sperm progressive status, sperm motility, sperm longevity (thermorresistance test) and hiposmotic swelling tests. The protocol used in this study for captive cougars semen collection were efficient, with the acquisition of samples free from urine and a medium of total spermatozoids per ejaculate higher than those describe in literature for this species. The sperm motility index was also higher than those describe in literature. The medium of structurally abnormal spermatozoa were 53.88% and besides the high pleiomorphic rate only one animal between those evaluated at this study was considered teratospermic. The most frequent pathologies were tightly coiled or bent tail, coiled or bent tail and tail coiled on the head. The cryopreservation and thawing protocol were good for the cryopreservation of cougars semen. The sperm motility index reduced only after 40 minutes of incubation at 38C for both extenders tested (16.25% in the extender with 5% of glycerol and 11.25% in the extender with 7.5%) and a medium of 25 to 29% of the spermatozoids showed plasmatic membrane integrity. There was no difference (p>0.05) between the two concentrations of glycerol used, according to the parameters evaluated.

ASSUNTO(S)

puma concolor semen criopreservação puma concolor medicina veterinaria conservação de situ sêmen situ conservation cryopreservation

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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