Title

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

Authors

David E. Wildt, National Cancer Institute at Frederick; Smithsonian Institution; National Zoological Park - Washington, D.C.
Mitch E. Bush, National Zoological Park - Washington, D.C.
J. G. Howard, National Zoological Park - Washington, D.C.
Stephen J. O'Brien, National Cancer Institute at FrederickFollow
D. G. Meltzer, Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital - Pretoria, South Africa
Ann van Dyk, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
H. Ebedes, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
D. J. Brand, National Zoological Gardens of South Africa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-1983

Publication Title

Biology of Reproduction

ISSN

0006-3363

Volume

29

Issue/No.

4

First Page

1019

Last Page

1025

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 10⁶ spermatozoa/ml of ejaculate) and percent motility (54.0%) were less in cheetahs than in domestic cats (147.0 X 10⁶ 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.

Comments

©1983 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction

NSUWorks Citation

Wildt, David E.; Mitch E. Bush; J. G. Howard; Stephen J. O'Brien; D. G. Meltzer; Ann van Dyk; H. Ebedes; and D. J. Brand. 1983. "Unique Seminal Quality in the South African Cheetah and a Comparative Evolution in the Domestic Cat." Biology of Reproduction 29, (4): 1019-1025. doi:10.1095/biolreprod29.4.1019.

ORCID ID

0000-0001-7353-8301

ResearcherID

N-1726-2015

DOI

10.1095/biolreprod29.4.1019