Spermatogenic Activity and Sperm Traits in Post-Pubertal and Adult Tomcats (Felis catus): Implication of Intra-Male Variation in Sperm Size.

ABSTRACT: Tomcats are considered to be adults at 1 year of age, although many reach sexual maturity at an earlier age. Nevertheless, we still know little about whether the spermatogenic activity and sperm quality of mature under one-year-old tomcats differ from those of tomcats that are over one-year-old. This study aims to evaluate the spermatogenic activity, sperm traits, and their relationships in mature tomcats at two different ages. Sixteen tomcats showing complete spermatogenesis and spermatozoa in their epididymal caudae were used and classified according to their age as post-pubertal (<1 year old) or adult (˃1 year old). Our results show that adult cats have higher epididymal sperm concentration and lower coefficient of variation in sperm head width and ellipticity than post-pubertal cats. H

SUBMITTER: Pintus E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7998732 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature