title: Collection and quality of rhesus monkey semen.
abstract: Electroejaculation is an accepted method of semen collection from nonhuman primates. Although both penile and rectal probe stimulation techniques have been used, there has been a general lack of consistency and detail regarding their application. This report describes the collection, processing, and evaluation of rhesus monkey semen contrasting two methods of penile electroejaculation: 1) a constant-voltage method where stimulus current is a variable and 2) a constant-current method where stimulus current is operator-controlled. The constant-current method was the more efficient procedure, requiring a lower stimulus current for successful electroejaculation. The influence on semen quality of potentially toxic agents used in the procedure, surgical glove powder and electrolyte cream, was tested; both were detrimental as measured by motility loss. No correlation was found between coagula volume and sperm numbers. The intra- and interanimal variability in semen samples from six monkeys was also evaluated. Penile electroejaculation, combined with control of stimulus current, provides a consistent, successful, and humane method for the collection of semen in the rhesus monkey.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Biology and Behavior, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, Oregon.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lanzendorf
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Gliessman
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Archibong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004542:Ejaculation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000502:physiology; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013081:Sperm Motility