Reproductive Characteristics of Male Florida Panthers: Comparative Studies from Florida, Texas, Colorado, Latin America, and North American Zoos

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 1994 papers

Abstract

Testicular volume, semen traits, and pituitary-gonadal hormones were measured in populations of Felis concolor from Florida, Texas, Colorado, Latin America, and North American zoos. More Florida panthers (F. concolor coryi) were unilaterally cryptorchid (one testicle not descended into the scrotum) than other populations (43.8 versus 3.9%, respectively). Florida panthers also had lower testicular and semen volumes, poorer sperm progressive motility, and more morphologically abnormal sperm, including a higher incidence of acrosomal defects and abnormal mitochondrial sheaths. Transmission electron microscopy revealed discontinuities in the acrosome, extraneous acrosomal material under the plasma membrane, and remnants of the golgi complex under the acrosome. No differences were detected in mean-circulating follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, or testosterone between Florida panthers and other populations of mountain lions. Seminal traits and concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone were similar between cryptorchid and noncryptorchid Florida panthers. Animals with F. concolor coryi ancestry were categorized on the basis of amount of genetic variation (low = type A; medium = type B; high = captive Piper stock). Compared to counterparts, type A Florida panthers had the lowest testicular volume and sperm-motility ratings and were the only animals exhibiting unilateral cryptorchidism. These results demonstrate the existence of major morphological and physiological differences among populations of F. concolor, a finding potentially related to differences in genetic diversity.

Related Papers

• → New findings on the sperm ultrastructure of Carabidae (Insecta, Coleoptera)(2020)23 cited
• → Relationship of sperm plasma membrane and acrosomal integrities with sperm morphometry in Bos taurus(2020)15 cited
• → Production of motile acrosome‐reacted mouse sperm with nanomolar concentration of calcium ionophore A23187(1994)22 cited
• → Use of atomic force microscopy for morphological and morphometric analyses of acrosome intact and acrosome‐reacted human sperm(2002)16 cited
• → Determining acrosomal status of the cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) sperm by fluorescence microscopy(1989)22 cited