Year-round testicular volume and semen quality evaluations in captive Chinchilla lanigera.

BUSSO JM,; PONZIO MF,; FIOL DE CUNEO M; RUIZ RD.

ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE

Elsevier Science.

Lugar: Gainesville, Florida, USA.; Año: 2005 vol. 90 p. 127 - 127

0378-4320

p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt">In mammals, reproductive performance is usually associated with seasons. Chinchilla lanigera, an endemic South American rodent, reproduces throughout the year in captivity but its seasonal breeding pattern is not fully understood. The present study was designed to evaluate (bi-weekly) over 1 year: (1) testicular volume variations and (2) seminal volume, sperm concentration and functional activity changes. Five animals were studied; they were individually housed indoors (22.2±1.0 .C) under natural photoperiod in Argentina (Córdoba, 31.S–64.W). Semen was obtained by electroejaculation; a total of 116 ejaculates was evaluated. Monthly values for paired testicular volume were less in the middle of the summer than in other seasons (p < 0.006), while those for seminal volume and total spermatozoa/ejaculate were not significantly different; these variables