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Effects of genetic captive-breeding protocols on sperm quality and fertility in the white-footed mouse.
- Source :
-
Biology of reproduction [Biol Reprod] 2010 Oct; Vol. 83 (4), pp. 540-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Jun 02. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- Mice (Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis) from a captive-breeding program were used to test the effects of three genetic breeding protocols (minimizing mean kinship [MK], random breeding, and selection for docility [DOC]) and inbreeding levels on sperm traits and fertility. Earlier, in generation 8, one DOC replicate went extinct because of poor reproductive success. By generation 10, spermatozoa from DOC mice had more acrosome and midpiece abnormalities, which were shown to be strong determinants of fertility, as well as lower sperm production and resistance to osmotic stress. In addition, determinants of fertility, including male and female components, were assessed in a comprehensive manner. Results showed that the probability (P) of siring litters is determined by sperm number, sperm viability, and midpiece and acrosome abnormalities; that the P of siring one versus two litters is determined by tail abnormalities; and that the total number of offspring is influenced by female size and proportion of normal sperm, showing the relative importance of different sperm traits on fertility. On average, males with 20% normal sperm sired one pup per litter, and males with 70% normal sperm sired eight pups per litter. Interestingly, the proportion of normal sperm was affected by docility but not by relatively low inbreeding. However, inbreeding depression in sperm motility was detected. In the MK group, inbreeding depression not only affected sperm motility but also fertility: An increase in the coefficient of inbreeding (f) of 0.03 reduced sperm motility by 30% and translated into an offspring reduction of three pups in second litters. A genetic load of 48 fecundity equivalents was calculated.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Animals, Newborn
Body Weight physiology
Female
Litter Size
Logistic Models
Male
Mice
Organ Size physiology
Peromyscus
Pregnancy
Random Allocation
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility physiology
Spermatozoa abnormalities
Fertility physiology
Inbreeding methods
Selection, Genetic physiology
Spermatozoa physiology
Testis physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1529-7268
- Volume :
- 83
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biology of reproduction
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20519695
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.110.085316