The fertilizing capacity of epididymal spermatozoa in relation to age, body weight and the onset of sexual maturity in the golden hamster

Abstract

Experiments with prepubertal hamsters were undertaken to determine if the appearance of spermatozoa with fertilizing capacity in the cauda epididymidis is related to age and/or body weight and whether the development of sperm function coincides with complete maturation of the mating behaviour pattern. At Week 6 after birth, intrauterine insemination of comparable numbers of spermatozoa showed that fertilizing capacity was related to body weight and not to age or seminal vesicular fructose concentration. In contrast to the low fertilization rate produced by spermatozoa from males weighing 80 g at Week 6 after birth, spermatozoa from 80-g males at Week 7 showed normal fertilizing capacity. Only 50% of 7-week-old males weighing 100\p=n-\110g produced fertile matings whereas all matings were fertile with males weighing 135 g and with males weighing 100 to 110 g that had received 7 consecutive daily injections of 50 \ g=m\ g testosterone beginning at Week 6 after birth. Comparison of sperm numbers in the cauda epididymidis and ductus deferens after mating at Week 7 showed that males which produced sterile matings were unable to terminate intromission with normal ejaculation of spermatozoa.

The Fertilizing Capacity of Golden Hamster Epididymal Spermatozoa in Relation to Age, Number, Motility and Morphology

“…According to Lubicz-Nawrocki and Chang (1976) sperm cells appear in the cauda epididymidis of hamsters at week 5 after birth only in animals with body weight above 90 g. At week 6 after birth sperm cells appear in the cauda of all animals and fertilization rate increased with body weight. Later at week 7 after birth, a higher proportion of epididy-ma1 spermatozoa developed fertilizing capactiy regardless of body weight.…”

Changes during puberty in chromatin condensation, morphology and fertilizing ability of epididymal spermatozoa of the golden hamster

“…In summary-the parameters measured all demonstrated that, during the period of puberty, hamster sperm heads and tails both showed improvement in qualities required for fertilizability. Lubicz-Nawrocki & Chang (1976) and Albert & Roussel (1983) reported similar results for hamster sperm and mouse sperm respectively, regarding motility, morphology and fertilizing ability. The relationship between sperm motility, morphology, fertilizing capacity and chromatin condensation during puberty is clearly evident in the present study.…”