Fractions of the semen of red deer (Cervus elaphus)--their occurrence and characteristics in different periods of season.
During a complete season 145 ejaculates were collected from 4 red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) using a modified artificial vagina. Differences found in characteristics of ejaculates allowed to identify four different types of ejaculates: pre-mating, mating, transitory, and post-mating ejaculate. These types of ejaculates occurred exclusively during corresponding periods of the season in the sequence mentioned above. Three fractions of ejaculates were identified: grey, white, and yellow. Pre- and post-mating ejaculates were homogenous and grey. The mating- and transitory ejaculate consisted of two fractions; the mating ejaculate consisted exclusively of white and yellow fractions and the transitory one contained exclusively the white and grey fraction. Respective fractions of ejaculates differed also in consistency. Pre- and post-mating ejaculates as well as the grey fraction of the transitory ejaculate were watery, the white fraction of the mating and transitory ejaculate were milky and the yellow fraction was honey-like. All respective fractions of ejaculates contained spermatozoa, except the yellow fraction. Volume, sperm concentration and pH of the respective fractions of ejaculates were examined. The yellow fraction had the largest volume and contributed most to differences between the ejaculates as concerns the volume. Sperm concentration was highest in the white fraction of the mating and the transitory ejaculate. The objective of this report was to confirm the previous findings about occurrence of distinguishable fractions and to describe their characteristics in respect to different periods of the season.
D000818:Animals; D003670:Deer / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000662:veterinary; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*