Social rank does not affect sperm quality in male African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)

dc.contributor.authorVan Den Berghe, Femke
dc.contributor.authorParis, Monique C.J.
dc.contributor.authorSarnyai, Zoltan
dc.contributor.authorBriggs, Michael B.
dc.contributor.authorMillar, Robert P.
dc.contributor.authorGanswindt, Andre
dc.contributor.authorParis, Damien B.B.P.
dc.contributor.emailaganswindt@zoology.up.ac.zaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2019-03-25T06:37:10Z
dc.date.available2019-03-25T06:37:10Z
dc.date.issued2019-04
dc.description.abstractSperm banking and AI could benefit endangered African wild dog conservation. However, it is unclear whether their dominance hierarchy causes a decrease in reproductive and sperm quality parameters in subordinate males that typically do not breed. In this study, we investigated the effect of social rank on male reproductive parameters, including faecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations, prostate and testes volume, preputial gland size, semen collection success and sperm quality. Samples were obtained from captive males (prebreeding season: n=12 from four packs; breeding season: n=24 from seven packs) that were classified as alpha (dominant), beta or gamma (subordinates) based on the frequency of dominant versus submissive behaviours. In the prebreeding season, semen was successfully collected from all alpha but only half the subordinate males, with urine contamination (associated with lower rank) significantly reducing total and progressive motility, sperm motility index, normal sperm morphology and acrosome integrity. The breeding season was associated with a significant increase in faecal androgens, prostate and testis volume, as well as progressive motility and the total number of spermatozoa ejaculated. However, with the exception of prostate volume (mean±s.e.m: 12.5±4.5, 7.1±1.0 and 7.3±1.0cm3 in alpha, beta and gamma males respectively; P=0.035), all other reproductive and sperm quality parameters did not differ between males of each social rank. In conclusion, reproductive suppression of subordinate males appears to be behaviourally mediated, because males of all social ranks produce semen of similar quality, making them suitable candidates for sperm banking, particularly during the breeding season when sperm quality improves.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentMammal Research Instituteen_ZA
dc.description.librarianhj2019en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Morris Animal Foundation [grant number D15ZO-053], Roger William Park Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, James Cook University, and IBREAM.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.publish.csiro.au/rden_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVan Den Berghe, F., Paris, M.C.J., Sarnyai, Z. et al. 2019, 'Social rank does not affect sperm quality in male African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)', Reproduction, Fertility and Development, vol. 31, no. 5, pp. 875-887.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1031-3613 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1448-5990 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1071/RD18205
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/68691
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherCSIRO Publishingen_ZA
dc.rights© CSIRO 2018en_ZA
dc.subjectBehaviouren_ZA
dc.subjectCortisolen_ZA
dc.subjectDominanceen_ZA
dc.subjectFertilityen_ZA
dc.subjectProstateen_ZA
dc.subjectSemenen_ZA
dc.subjectTestisen_ZA
dc.subjectTestosteroneen_ZA
dc.subjectAfrican wild dog (Lycaon pictus)en_ZA
dc.subjectSocial ranken_ZA
dc.subjectSperm qualityen_ZA
dc.titleSocial rank does not affect sperm quality in male African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)en_ZA
dc.typePostprint Articleen_ZA

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