title: A case report concerning male gametes rescued from a Siamese Eld's deer (Rucervus eldii siamensis): post-thawed testicular and epididymal sperm quality and heterologous zona pellucida binding ability.
abstract: In the present study, the quality of frozen-thawed epididymal and testicular sperm recovered from a Siamese Eld's deer was examined. The epididymal sperm quality was assessed in fresh, cold-stored at 4°C and frozen-thawed samples. Zona binding ability of the frozen-thawed epididymal samples with Burmese Eld's deer oocytes was also evaluated. Testicular sperm extracted from tissues frozen at -80 or -196°C for one month were examined for membrane and DNA integrity. Epididymal sperm retained their quality for up to 24 hr of cold storage at 4°C. The percentages of sperm motility, intact membrane, intact acrosome and intact DNA were 30, 46.5, 27 and 89.5% in the frozen and thawed epididymal sperm, and the average ability to bind with oocytes was 92.5 ± 64 sperm/oocytes. Around 70% of the sperm extracted from testicular tissues cryopreserved at -196 and -80°C for one month showed an intact membrane. In conclusion, epididymal and testicular sperm survived for more than 13 hr post-mortem. Furthermore, cold storage at 4°C and cryopreservation at -196 and -80°C maintain the quality of epididymal and testicular sperm. This study represents a model for male gamete rescue in endangered Eld's deer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
authors.forename: Paweena
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thuwanut
authors.forename: Ampika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thongphakdee
authors.forename: Angkana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommanustweechai
authors.forename: Boripat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Siriaroonrat
authors.forename: Kaywalee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chatdarong
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000502:physiology; D003670:Deer; D056727:Endangered Species; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism*