A Comparative Analysis of Ejaculate and Hormonal Characteristics of the Captive Male Cheetah, Tiger, Leopard, and Puma1

Abstract

Male cheetahs, tigers, leopards, and pumas maintained under the same conditions were anesthetized and 1) serially bled before, during, and after electroejaculation (EE); 2) serially bled only (AO); or 3) serially bled before and after receiving adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH). Ejaculates from leopards contained higher (p less than 0.05) sperm concentrations than cheetahs and pumas but lower (p less than 0.05) sperm motility ratings than all other species. Tigers produced a larger seminal volume and the greatest number of motile sperm/ejaculate (p less than 0.05). The percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa was greater (p less than 0.05) in cheetahs (64.6%), leopards (79.5%), and pumas (73.5%) than in tigers (37.5%). The most prevalent spermatozoal deformities included a tightly coiled or bent flagellum, a deranged midpiece, or a residual cytoplasmic droplet. Mean baseline serum cortisol concentrations in leopards were 2- and 4-fold greater (p less than 0.05) than in tigers and cheetahs, respectively. Basal cortisol concentrations in pumas were similar to those of tigers, but irrespective of treatment increased 2-fold (p less than 0.01) during the bleeding period. An acute rise and fall in cortisol attributable to EE was observed only in cheetahs. In tigers and leopards, mean peak cortisol concentrations after ACTH were similar to maximal values observed after EE. However, peak cortisol levels in cheetahs and pumas after ACTH were greater (p less than 0.01) than the concentrations measured after EE, indicating that these manipulatory procedures were not eliciting a maximal adrenal response. In the EE groups, luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels in cheetahs were lower (p less than 0.05) than in other species, whereas levels of both hormones were comparable (p greater than 0.05) in tigers, leopards, and pumas. Elevated cortisol levels in cheetahs and pumas had no discernible effect on LH/testosterone patterns; however, the results were equivocal in tigers, and, among leopards, testosterone concentrations consistently declined over time. In this study, using a standardized approach, we identify different ejaculate and endocrine characteristics of captive cheetahs, tigers, leopards, and pumas. The data extend earlier observations and demonstrate that some, but not all, Felidae species ejaculate high numbers of pleiomorphic spermatozoa. However, inter-species differences in sperm integrity do not appear related to inter-species variations in cortisol, LH, or testosterone. The observation of continuously declining testosterone concentrations only in leopards after AO, EE, or ACTH treatment suggests that rising and/or elevated cortiso

Reproductive Impairment in the Florida Panther: Nature or Nurture?

“…Moreover, 75% of Florida panther sperm exhibited severe deformity to the extent that they were classified as primary abnormalities (primary abnormalities are those abnormalities that are thought to occur during spermatogenesis as opposed to abnormalities which may arise due to external influences such as nutrition or disease) (8). This proportion of primary abnormal sperm is much greater than the 20 to 25% observed in either wild or captive Texas cougars (1) and the 27% incidence of primary abnormality observed in sperm of South African cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatusjubatus (10).…”

Cheetah interspecific SCNT followed by embryo aggregation improves in vitro development but not pluripotent gene expression

“…One such species, the cheetah (Ch, Acinonyx jubatus), has suffered from a loss of habitat and a reduction in their prey. This has resulted in a reduced population that in turn has led to genetic inbreeding resulting in poor sperm quality (Wildt et al 1983(Wildt et al , 1988.…”

Semen characteristics and testosterone profiles in ferrets kept in a long-day photoperiod, and the influence of hCG timing and sperm dilution medium on pregnancy rate after laparoscopic insemination

“…A double antibody RIA l25I kit (Radioassay Systems Inc., Carson, CA, USA) was used which employed a rabbit testosterone-19-carboxymethylether-BSA antibody with the following cross-reactivities: 100% with testosterone; 10-3% with 5a-dihydrotestosterone; < 1% with 5ß-dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, androstanedione, androsterone, epiandrosterone, oestrone, oestradiol-17ß, oestriol, progesterone and corticosterone. This assay has been used previously in this laboratory for other carnivore species (Wildt el a!, 1987(Wildt el a!, , 1988Brown et a!, 1988) and was validated for ferret serum by demonstrating recovery of mass. Upon addition of 005, 0125, 0-25, 0-5, 1-25 and 2-5 ng testosterone to 25 µ ferret serum, 008, 015, 0-23, 0-56, 0-94 and 2-65 ng was recovered, respectively, after subtracting endogenous hormone (r = 0-99).…”