Electroejaculation and semen evaluation of the viviparous lizard Sceloporus torquatus (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae)

A non‐invasive method for semen collection and evaluation in small and median size lizards

“…Although this method was highly efficient in this saurian (77%), stress was inevitable. In a previous study, we obtained semen by electrostimulation in S. torquatus (Martínez‐Torres et al., ), and we observed that the seminal volume obtained by this method was minor than obtained by PGP (4.6 ± 3.l μl vs. 8.5 ± 3.4 μl) in same species. In T. spinolous , a median size lizard, the volume obtained by electrostimulation was minor to 1 μl (Lopez‐Juri et al., ).…”

“…Electrostimulation has been used frequently to obtain semen in reptiles, including saurians (Lopez‐Juri et al., ; Martínez‐Torres et al., ; Zimmerman et al., ). It has been proved to be an efficient method with high success rates in lizards in which has been applied: 88%— Iguana iguana (Zimmerman et al., ), 95%— Tropidurus spinolosus (Lopez‐Juri et al., ) and 77%— Sceloporus torquatus (Martínez‐Torres et al., ). However, this is a method that can be costly since it requires a variable voltage power and bipolar electrodes of several diameters in order to serve to the saurian of different sizes.…”

“…However, efforts have concentrated on turtles (Zimmerman & Mitchel, ), snakes (Zacariotti, Grego, Fernandes, Sant'Anna, & de Barros Vaz Gui‐maraes, ) and crocodilian (Assumpção, Santos André, & Canelo, ) with few studies in saurians. Electroejaculation (Lopez‐Juri, Chiaraviglio, & Cardozo, ; Martínez‐Torres, Álvarez‐Rodríguez, Luis, & Sánchez‐Rivera, ; Zimmerman, Mitchell, & Perry, ) and post‐mortem recuperation from vas deferens ( Tupinambis merianae , Young, Ravida, Curtis, Mazzotti, & Durrant, ) have been performed on lizards. Herpetofauna reduction is a current global problem that makes necessary the development of strategies that allow the conservation of the more vulnerable species.…”

Determining the Effects of Serial Injections of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin on Plasma Testosterone Concentrations, Testicular Dynamics, and Semen Production in Leopard Geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

“…Electrostimulation was successful in producing semen samples in 85.4% of the attempts made in both the control and treatment gecko groups. Electrostimulation of Texas rock lizards ( Sceloporus torquatus ), Chaco spiny lizards ( Tropidurus spinosus ), and green iguanas produced similar successes, with semen collected in 77%, 94%, and 88% of samples collected, respectively [ 10 , 14 , 15 ]. Lower results were reported for panther (55%) and veiled (50%) chameleons [ 12 ].…”

“…However, despite the bewildering array of reproductive modes exhibited by reptiles, there is little information on the physiology and hormonal control of reproduction for most species [ 9 ]. For example, the ability to collect spermatozoa in reptiles is a key initial step in developing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for these animals; however, in lizards, successful semen collection has only been achieved in nine species through either electrostimulation or manual massage, including: green iguanas ( Iguana iguana ), Grand Cayman blue iguana hybrids ( Cyclura lewisi × nubila ), veiled chameleons ( Chamaeleo calyptratus ), panther chameleons ( Furcifer pardalis ), leopard geckos ( Eublepharis macularis ), Chaco spiny lizards ( Tropodurus spinulosis ), Texas rock lizards ( Sceloporus torquatus ), McCann’s skinks ( Oligosoma maccanni ), and common house geckos ( Hemidactylus frenatus ) [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Furthermore, the administration of exogenous mammalian gonadotropins to male lizards in order to stimulate steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis has only been attempted in <0.14% (10/6905) of all lizard species [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”