Transscrotal stimulation of the testes and epididymides improves urethral sperm collection in domestic cats
S. Prochowska
A B and W. Niżański A
A Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland.
B Corresponding author. Email: sylwia.prochowska@upwr.edu.pl
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 33(6) 437-440 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD21010
Submitted: 15 January 2021 Accepted: 12 February 2021 Published: 5 March 2021
Abstract
Urethral catheterisation after medetomidine administration is the method of choice for semen collection in cats, but it yields variable results. This study tested whether scrotal manual stimulation can improve urethral sperm collection in domestic cats. The study was performed on 20 male cats, from which two urethral semen samples were collected, one before and one after 2 min of transscrotal finger massage of the testes and epididymides. Both sperm samples were assessed for total sperm count and motility using computer-aided sperm analysis, viability and morphology (eosin–nigrosin staining). The transscrotal manual stimulation allowed a significantly higher number of spermatozoa to be obtained (P = 0.0015). Viability was similar before and after the stimulation (median 92% and 90.5%), whereas the number of motile (median 60% and 70%) and morphologically normal (median 17% and 30.5%) spermatozoa was higher in the second sample (P = 0.03 and P = 0.002 respectively), which confirms that transscrotal massage induced the expulsion of a fresh pool of spermatozoa into the urethra. Transscrotal stimulation of the testes and epididymides significantly improves urethral semen collection in domestic cats and can be easily introduced into clinical practice.
Keywords: domestic cat, semen collection, scrotum, manual stimulation, transscrotal massage, urethral sperm, CASA, sperm output.
References
Alipour, H., Van Der Horst, G., Christiansen, O. B., Dardmeh, F., Jørgensen, N., Nielsen, H. I., and Hnida, C. (2017). Improved sperm kinematics in semen samples collected after 2 h versus 4–7 days of ejaculation abstinence. Hum. Reprod. 32, 1364–1372.| Improved sperm kinematics in semen samples collected after 2 h versus 4–7 days of ejaculation abstinence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28531319PubMed |
Alwaal, A., Breyer, B. N., and Lue, T. F. (2015). Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation. Fertil. Steril. 104, 1051–1060.
| Normal male sexual function: emphasis on orgasm and ejaculation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26385403PubMed |
Axnér, E. (2008). Updates on reproductive physiology, genital diseases and artificial insemination in the domestic cat. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 43, 144–149.
| Updates on reproductive physiology, genital diseases and artificial insemination in the domestic cat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18638116PubMed |
Axnér, E., Ström, B., and Linde-Forsberg, C. (1997). Sperm morphology is better in the second ejaculate than in the first in domestic cats electroejaculated twice during the same period of anesthesia. Theriogenology 47, 929–934.
| Sperm morphology is better in the second ejaculate than in the first in domestic cats electroejaculated twice during the same period of anesthesia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16728042PubMed |
Cunto, M., Küster, D. G., Bini, C., Cartolano, C., Pietra, M., and Zambelli, D. (2015). Influence of Different Protocols of Urethral Catheterization after Pharmacological Induction (Ur.Ca.P.I.) on Semen Quality in the Domestic Cat. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 50, 999–1002.
| Influence of Different Protocols of Urethral Catheterization after Pharmacological Induction (Ur.Ca.P.I.) on Semen Quality in the Domestic Cat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26482317PubMed |
da Silva, M. C. C., Ullony, K. M., de Araújo, G. R., Jorge-Neto, P. N., and de Deco-Souza, T. (2019) Comparação entre dois fármacos alfa dois agonistas para a colheita farmacológica de sêmen de gatos domésticos. In ‘Proceedings of IV Reunião Anual da Associação Brasileira de Andrologia Animal, Goiânia, GO, Brasil, 7–8 June 2019’. (Ed. M. A. S. Turine.) pp. 247–250. Dados Internacionais de Catalogação na Publicação (Divisão de Editora da UFMS): Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
Kochan, J., Niżański, W., Moreira, N., Cubas, Z. S., Nowak, A., Prochowska, S., Partyka, A., Młodawska, W., and Skotnicki, J. (2019). ARTs in Wild Felid Conservation Programmes in Poland and in the World. J. Vet. Res. 63, 457–464.
| ARTs in Wild Felid Conservation Programmes in Poland and in the World.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31572828PubMed |
Madrigal-Valverde, M., Bittencourt, R. F., Ribeiro Filho, A. D., Barbosa, V. F., Vieira, C. A., Romão, E. A., Carneiro, I. B., Azevedo, M. C., and Araujo, G. R. (2020). Quality of domestic cat semen collected by urethral catheterization after the use of different alpha 2-adrenergic agonists. J. Feline Med. Surg. , .
| Quality of domestic cat semen collected by urethral catheterization after the use of different alpha 2-adrenergic agonists.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 33206029PubMed |
Palmer, C. W. (2005). Welfare aspects of theriogenology: investigating alternatives to electroejaculation of bulls. Theriogenology 64, 469–479.
| Welfare aspects of theriogenology: investigating alternatives to electroejaculation of bulls.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15955553PubMed |
Pisu, M. C., Ponzio, P., Rovella, C., Baravalle, M., and Veronesi, M. C. (2017). Usefulness of an injectable anaesthetic protocol for semen collection through urethralcatheterisation in domestic cats. J. Feline Med. Surg. 19, 1087–1090.
| Usefulness of an injectable anaesthetic protocol for semen collection through urethralcatheterisation in domestic cats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27856784PubMed |
Prochowska, S., Niżański, W., Ochota, M., and Partyka, A. (2015). Characteristics of urethral and epididymal semen collected from domestic cats-A retrospective study of 214 cases. Theriogenology 84, 1565–1571.
| Characteristics of urethral and epididymal semen collected from domestic cats-A retrospective study of 214 cases.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26359850PubMed |
Rijsselaere, T., and Van Soom, A. (2010). Semen collection, assessment and artificial insemination in the cat. Vlaams Diergeneeskd. Tijdschr. 79, 467–470.
Schmitt, D. L., and Hildebrandt, T. B. (1998). Manual collection and characterization of semen from Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Anim. Reprod. Sci. 53, 309–314.
| Manual collection and characterization of semen from Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 9835384PubMed |
Siemieniuch, M., and Dubiel, A. (2007). Preservation of tomcat (Felis catus) semen in variable temperatures. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 99, 135–144.
| Preservation of tomcat (Felis catus) semen in variable temperatures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16725286PubMed |
Swanson, W. F., Bateman, H. L., and Vansandt, L. M. (2017). Urethral catheterization and sperm vitrification for simplified semen banking in felids. Reprod. Domest. Anim. 52, 255–260.
| Urethral catheterization and sperm vitrification for simplified semen banking in felids.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27807883PubMed |
van der Horst, G., Medger, K., Steckler, D., Luther, I., and Bartels, P. (2018). Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) sperm revisited: Motility, morphology and ultrastructure of fresh sperm of consecutive ejaculates. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 195, 309–320.
| Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) sperm revisited: Motility, morphology and ultrastructure of fresh sperm of consecutive ejaculates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29954651PubMed |
Zambelli, D., Prati, F., Cunto, M., Iacono, E., and Merlo, B. (2008). Quality and in vitro fertilizing ability of cryopreserved cat spermatozoa obtained by urethral catheterization after medetomidine administration. Theriogenology 69, 485–490.
| Quality and in vitro fertilizing ability of cryopreserved cat spermatozoa obtained by urethral catheterization after medetomidine administration.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18082880PubMed |
