title: The effects of frequent electroejaculation on the semen characteristics of a captive Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica).
abstract: Artificial insemination (AI) can help to avoid inbreeding and genetic degeneration for sustaining genetically healthy populations of endangered species in captivity. Collection of a sufficient quantity of viable sperm is an essential first step in the AI process. In the present study, we examined the effects of frequent electroejaculation on semen characteristics in a Siberian tiger. We collected semen in all 17 trials during 6 breeding seasons (6 years). The mean number of sperm and the percentage of motile sperm were 294.3 ± 250.2 × 10⁶/ejaculate and 82.4 ± 11.4%, respectively. The number of motile sperm tended to increase during frequent electroejaculation in the same breeding season. Semen collection by electroejaculation can be performed effectively up to the fourth sequential ejaculate, which contained the most sperm in the study. In conclusion, frequent collection of sperm by electroejaculation from tigers may be effective for collection of a large number of motile sperm.
authors.affiliation: Asahikawa Municipal Asahiyama Zoological Park & Wildlife Conservation Center, Asahikawa 078-8205, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bando
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosuge
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Motozumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yojiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D004542:Ejaculation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D056727:Endangered Species; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary; D053625:Sperm Retrieval / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D046010:Tigers; D013997:Time Factors