In recent years, genome banks have grown as a way of maintaining the genetic variability of populations. However, the quality of gamete cryopreservation will determine their efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate prefreeze and postthaw sperm motility, vigor, membrane integrity, and morphology of semen of red brocket deer (Mazama americana) using three extenders: E1, Tris-Yolk; E2, Tes-Tris-Yolk; and E3, Tes-Tris-Yolk-Equex. Six bucks were used, and three collections per buck were performed at 90-day intervals. Before freezing, semen volume, ejaculate concentration, motility, vigor, membrane integrity, and sperm morphology were evaluated. To compare the effect exerted by the extenders after sample thawing, further analyses of sperm motility, vigor, membrane integrity, and morphology were performed. Mean ejaculate volume and sperm concentration were 365.33 +/- 120.5 microL and 2,675.73 +/- 810.4 sperm/mL, respectively. Prefreeze motility for the extenders showed no significant differences (approximately 60%). Postthaw motility (E1 = 16.33 +/- 5.5, E2 = 5.44 +/- 5.2, E3 = 24.66 +/- 10.0) was significantly different between E2 and E3, whereas postthaw vigor (E1 =2.66 +/- 0.8, E2= 1.89 +/- 1.2, E3 = 3.83 +/- 0.4) was greater for E3 (P < or = 0.05). Analysis of postthaw membrane integrity revealed no significant differences between the extenders regarding counts of cells presenting intact membranes; however, E3 promoted the lowest number of cells with damaged membranes and higher cell counts for partially damaged membranes (P < or = 0.05). Analysis of sperm morphology revealed an increase in severe abnormalities when using E2 and E3 (P < 0.05). However, observation verified that counts of altered cells were lower using E3 than E2, suggesting a protective effect of Equex. These findings indicate that E3 promoted better semen quality postthaw. However, the performance of this extender in protecting sperm cells of M. americana during freezing was lower than that verified for other species. Thus, further studies are needed for characterization of red brocket deer semen and the optimization of extender for sperm cryopreservation.

BackgroundStress is a limiting factor in assisted reproduction in wild animals maintained in captivity. However, the knowledge of assisted reproduction techniques for wild animals is useful for future in situ and ex situ conservation programs. Thus, this study evaluated the ovulation rate, presence of functional corpora lutea and fecal glucocorticoid levels following treatments promoting superovulation in captive brown brocket deer.MethodsThe crossover design used six hinds, allocated to two groups (n = 6): eCG Treatment, CIDR for 8 days, followed by 0.25 mg of EB on day 0, 700 IU of eCG on day 4 following device insertion and 265 mug of PGF2alfa on day 8; and FSH Treatment, CIDR for 7.5 days, followed by 0.25 mg of EB on day 0, 130 mg of FSH in 8 equal doses and 265 mug of PGF2alfa on day 7.5. Induced adrenal activity and treatment efficacy were evaluated by corpora lutea (CL) counts and fecal glucocorticoid and progestin concentration (ng/g feces) analyses for five different phases: Pre, two days before treatment; Early, first four days of treatment; Late, last four days of treatment; Total, entire treatment period; and Post, five days posttreatment.ResultseCG Treatment resulted in the highest number of CL (P lower than 0.05). There was no significant difference for fecal glucocorticoid concentrations in five different time periods between the treatments; however Pre fecal glucocorticoid concentrations (90.06+/−19.64) were significantly different from Late (200.76+/−26.39) within FSH Treatment. The mean fecal progestin concentration and mean ovulation rate were higher in eCG Treatment (4293.69+/−769.47, 7.0+/−1.8) than in FSH Treatment (1571.26+/−240.28, 2.6+/−0.8) (P lower than or equal to 0.05).ConclusionsAlthough the eCG Treatment induced a good superovulatory response, with the formation of functional corpora lutea, we cannot yet affirm that we have established a suitable protocol for induction of SOV in the species M. gouazoubira because approximately 65% of the deer showed premature regression of the corpora lutea. Moreover, multiple FSH applications in FSH Treatment resulted in a low ovulation rate and induced an increase in fecal glucocorticoid levels.

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This study evaluated the short-term hormonal and behavioural responses to capture and radio-collar fitting in free-ranging pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus). Twenty adult deer (eleven females and nine males) were captured in the South Pantanal wetland (Brazil) and equipped with VHF radio-collars (marked deer). Untreated adult deer of the same sex were randomly chosen as the control group (nine females and nine males). On the day following capture, an observer followed all deer for faecal collection and behaviour evaluation. Faecal samples were immediately refrigerated and frozen at-20°C within a maximum of 12 h. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) were measured using an 11-oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay. A qualitative behaviour assessment and the consequences of capture were evaluated using pre-defined terminologies and scores. Flight distance was recorded using a range finder. FGM increased from 19-22 h after capture onwards and peak concentrations were five times (median) higher as the respective baseline values. FGM values of marked deer were significantly higher at 22-25 and 25-28 h compared with controls. Marked male but not female deer had significantly higher FGM values at 22-25 and 25-28 h compared with their baseline values. Marked deer were significantly more fearful, less sociable and defensive than controls. The absences of significant increases of FGM in the captured female deer may indicate that females are less prone to capture stress. The significantly more fearful, and less sociable and defensive patterns observed in marked deer may be relevant during capture of lactating females or in areas with high predator pressure.

Pesq. Vet. Bras. 32(7):658-662, julho 2012 658 RESUMO.-O desenvolvimento de técnicas não invasivas para a obtenção de sêmen de cervídeos facilita a criação de bancos genômicos, que são importantes instrumentos para a conservação ex situ e in situ. Este trabalho teve como objetivo criar uma metodologia não-invasiva de coleta de sêmen e comparar duas técnicas de coleta em quatro espécies do The development of noninvasive techniques for obtaining semen from deer facilitates the creation of genome banks, which are important tools for ex situ and in situ conservation. This study aimed to establish a noninvasive method of semen collection and compare two techniques of collection in four species of the genus Mazama: M. americana, M. gouazoubira, M. nana and M. nemorivaga. To achieve this, 6 males (M) and 2 females (F) of the species M. Americana, 3M and 2F of M. gouazoubira, 1M and 1F of M. nana and 2M and 1F of M. nemorivaga were used. For each technique tested, a period of habituation to animal handling was conducted; then, the two conditioning techniques and collection were evaluated. In the ϐirst, a female in estrus was used with lateral deviation of the penis to an artiϐicial vagina (FEDL), yielding collection from 50% of the males (100% from M. gouazoubira and 50% from M. americana), with no ejaculate from the remaining species. In the second technique, using a taxidermized dummy with urine from females in estrus (MUFE), no semen collection was possible. During all stages, male behavior was observed regarding the time of interest and approximation, the "Flehmen" response, the act of snifϐing or licking, exposure of the penis, erection, number of false mounts, attempts at copulation and the occurrence of aggression between the deer.