title: High incidence of 'Dag-like' sperm defect in the domestic cat.
abstract: The occurrence of a high incidence of sperm tail defects in a male domestic cat resembling the known 'Dag-like' defect is reported. Sperm analyses were performed in ejaculated samples collected by an artificial vagina and in testicular and epididymal sperm cells after castration. The following alterations were observed using transmission electron microscope: heavily coiled sperm tails containing several axonemal units enclosed in the same common cell membrane; aberrations in the axonemal main structure; and swollen and unevenly distributed mitochondria in the midpiece. Abnormal modifications in the mitochondrial sheath were also found in sperm cells retrieved from testes and epididymides. Considering these findings, we can conclude that this is the Dag-like defect, described previously in other domestic species and a testicular origin may be involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, FMVZ, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. aivillaverde@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Ana Izabel S Balbin
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.forename: Eduardo G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Fioratti
authors.forename: Renata S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Renato C F
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.forename: Guilherme S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Fernanda C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Landim-Alvarenga
authors.forename: Maria Denise
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000473:pathology*