| Title: | Characteristics of reproductive organs and estimates of reproductive potential in Scandinavian male grey wolves (Canis lupus) |
| Author(s): | Petersen A; Akesson M; Axner E; Agren E; Wikenros C; Dalin AM; |
| Address: | "Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Div. of Reproduction, PO Box 7054, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Amanda.Petersen1989@gmail.com. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Dept. of Ecology, Grimso Wildlife Research Station, SE-73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden. Electronic address: Mikael.Akesson@slu.se. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Div. of Reproduction, PO Box 7054, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Eva.Axner@slu.se. National Veterinary Institute, SVA, SE-75189 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Erik.Agren@sva.se. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Dept. of Ecology, Grimso Wildlife Research Station, SE-73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden. Electronic address: Camilla.Wikenros@slu.se. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU, Dept. of Clinical Sciences, Div. of Reproduction, PO Box 7054, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Anne-Marie.Dalin@slu.se" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106693 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-2232 (Electronic) 0378-4320 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Improved knowledge about reproductive patterns and potential in male wolves (i.e., testicular development and size relative to age, pubertal age, and seasonal effects) is needed for evaluation and monitoring of reproductive outcomes in populations. Reproductive organs from 215 male wolves, culled as a result of licensed hunting, protective culling or from carcasses found were examined. The testes and epididymis were weighed and measured. There were biopsy samples collected from the testes and the cauda epididymis for histological determinations if there were spermatozoa in tissues collected. There were reproductive tissue analyses of 197 males while there were separate evaluations of tissues from ten cryptorchid animals. Juvenile wolves (< 1?ª+year, n?ª+=?ª+47) had a lesser body mass and mean testes mass than subadult (1-2 years, n = 71) and adult (>2 years, n?ª+=?ª+79) males. Season also affected testicular characteristics of structures evaluated with subadult and adult males having a lesser mass during summer months (May-August). Of the 197 males, 70 % had spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules and the cauda epididymis and were classified as being 'potentially fertile' when tissues were collected, while 22 % were classified as being non-fertile (no spermatozoa, including males that were pre-pubertal) and tissues of 8% could not be evaluated. When testes mass was greater, there was a greater likelihood that spermatozoa were present. There were seven of the ten cryptorchid males of the unilateral type. These testicular and epididymal findings will be useful for evaluating the reproductive potential and management of wolves in Scandinavia" |
| Keywords: | Aging/*physiology Animals Cryptorchidism/*veterinary Male Norway Sexual Maturation Spermatozoa/*physiology Sweden Testis/*anatomy & histology Wolves/*anatomy & histology/*physiology Histology Reproductive potential Spermatozoa Testes Wolf; |
| Notes: | "MedlinePetersen, Amanda Akesson, Mikael Axner, Eva Agren, Erik Wikenros, Camilla Dalin, Anne-Marie eng Netherlands 2021/01/22 Anim Reprod Sci. 2021 Mar; 226:106693. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106693. Epub 2021 Jan 14" |
