Spermadonatie en de start van een open spermabank voor honden: een nieuw hulpmiddel om inteelt bij rashonden te voorkomen

Abstract

At present, only 5% of pedigree dogs is being used for breeding. To increase the number of breeding dogs, one solution could be to start a canine semen bank based on the principle of semen donation, like in humans. Many dog owners have no desire to become dog breeders but are willing to preserve the genetic material of their dog, if offered this possibility. However, not all canine ejaculates are suitable for cryopreservation as the initial quality may differ and the resistance of sperm cells to survive the freezing procedure is highly variable. In order to freeze the semen of as many male dogs as possible, it is important to optimize and individualize the cryopreservation protocol per ejaculate. Practically, frozen semen can be stored in the CanIfreeze-semen bank or in veterinary practices adjacent to the owner of the bitch and can be used for insemination at a later time.

Canine and Feline Epididymal Semen—A Plentiful Source of Gametes

“…In the cauda, the spermatozoa become motile and acquire a fertilization ability, while some of them still have a distal cytoplasmic droplet, near the annulus (Figure 1). certain dog breeds [1]. Moreover, in cats, a species notoriously difficult to collect semen from, epididymal sperm may serve as an extra and easily accessible source of gametes [2].…”

“…This coiled duct constitutes a reservoir for millions of spermatozoa before ejaculation; therefore, the epididymis is a valuable source for spermatozoa in stud dogs or endangered canids and felids that die suddenly or need to be castrated. Semen donation and banking in pedigree dogs has become more and more important and can serve as a central tool to prevent inbreeding in certain dog breeds [1]. Moreover, in cats, a species notoriously difficult to collect semen from, epididymal sperm may serve as an extra and easily accessible source of gametes [2].…”

Influence of Single Layer Centrifugation with Canicoll on Semen Freezability in Dogs

“…In dogs, cryopreservation of semen has become a well-known assisted reproduction technique for breeders. This technique allows the genetics of superior dogs to be preserved and exchanged with no restriction in time or distance [1][2][3]. In comparison to other species, the plasma membrane of dog spermatozoa contains a high cholesterol-to-phospholipids ratio, which makes themrelatively resistant to cold and osmotic stress [4].…”