Unique Seminal Quality in the South African Cheetah and a Comparative Evaluation in the Domestic Cat

Abstract

Analysis of 40 semen samples collected by electroejaculation from 18 cheetahs revealed no major differences in seminal traits among Transvaal, South West (Namibia) or hybrid (Transvaal X South West) males. However, mean spermatozoal concentration (14.5 X 10(6) spermatozoa/ml of ejaculate) and percent motility (54.0%) were less in cheetahs than in domestic cats (147.0 X 10(6) spermatozoa/ml of ejaculate, 77.0% motility) subjected to the same electroejaculation regimen. On the average, cheetah ejaculates contained 71.0% morphologically abnormal spermatozoa compared to 29.1% aberrant spermatozoal forms in the domestic cat. These results indicate that seminal characteristics in the cheetah are markedly inferior compared to the domestic cat, particularly with respect to the incidence of pleiomorphic spermatozoa. Because a recent parallel study demonstrates that the cheetah lacks genetic variation, it appears likely that spermatozoal abnormalities are a genetic consequence of genomic homozygosity characteristic of this endangered species.

Cheetah interspecific SCNT followed by embryo aggregation improves in vitro development but not pluripotent gene expression

“…One such species, the cheetah (Ch, Acinonyx jubatus), has suffered from a loss of habitat and a reduction in their prey. This has resulted in a reduced population that in turn has led to genetic inbreeding resulting in poor sperm quality (Wildt et al 1983(Wildt et al , 1988.…”

Approaches and efficacy of artificial insemination in felids and mustelids

“…For example, felid species or populations lacking genetic variability tend to produce more malformed spermatozoa than more genetically diverse counterparts [37,38]. The genetically homozygous Florida panther produces extraordinarily high proportions (>90%) of pleiomorphic sperm [39,40].…”

“…The genetically homozygous Florida panther produces extraordinarily high proportions (>90%) of pleiomorphic sperm [39,40]. The cheetah and clouded leopard (two other species well documented to have low levels of gene diversity) also routinely ejaculate >70% malformed spermatozoa [36,37,41]. A more direct link between heterozygosity and sperm integrity in felids has been shown from prospective inbreeding studies in the domestic cat, whereby one generation of sib-to-sib matings increases pleiomorphic sperm production in offspring [42].…”

Ability of thawed tiger (Panthera tigris) spermatozoa to fertilize conspecific eggs and bind and penetrate domestic cat eggs in vitro

“…Collection, evaluation and cryopreservation of semen Ejaculates were collected using a standardized anaesthesia and electroejaculation technique reported previously (Wildt et al, 1983(Wildt et al, , 1987Howard et al, 1986b;Donoghue et al, 1990). In brief, after inducing anaesthesia with ketamine hydrochloride (5-0 mg kg" ', i.m.…”