The impact and potential etiology of teratospermia in the domestic cat and its wild relatives

Approaches and efficacy of artificial insemination in felids and mustelids

“…1) [3,35,36]. Our laboratory has revealed that 20 of the 23 felid species (or their subspecies) evaluated consistently experienced this condition (range, 4-58% normal sperm; Fig.…”

“…Our laboratory has revealed that 20 of the 23 felid species (or their subspecies) evaluated consistently experienced this condition (range, 4-58% normal sperm; Fig. 2) [36]. Interestingly, only three species (domestic cat, leopard cat, Siberian tiger) ejaculate >60% structurally normal spermatozoa per ejaculate (Fig.…”

“…Interestingly, only three species (domestic cat, leopard cat, Siberian tiger) ejaculate >60% structurally normal spermatozoa per ejaculate (Fig. 2) [36].…”

“…The genetically homozygous Florida panther produces extraordinarily high proportions (>90%) of pleiomorphic sperm [39,40]. The cheetah and clouded leopard (two other species well documented to have low levels of gene diversity) also routinely ejaculate >70% malformed spermatozoa [36,37,41]. A more direct link between heterozygosity and sperm integrity in felids has been shown from prospective inbreeding studies in the domestic cat, whereby one generation of sib-to-sib matings increases pleiomorphic sperm production in offspring [42].…”

“…1F-H). Transmission and electron microscopy reveal large vacuoles, a knobbed acrosome and abnormal acrosomal matrix in such animals [36]. These types of sperm anomalies now are known to originate within the testes, which is indicative of dysfunctional spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis [43].…”