Frozen Jaguar (Panthera onca) sperm capacitation and ability to penetrate zona free hamster oocytes

Abstract

Assisted reproductive technologies in endangered species, such as artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, can be viewed as one potential approach for safeguarding species. Toward this aim, the objective of this study was to evaluate the fertility of frozen jaguar (Panthera onca) sperm and Tyrod's Talp PVA capacitation medium using the hamster zona free oocyte penetration assay. Ejaculates were collected from nine animals using electroejaculation and cryopreserved. Sperm capacitation was performed by swim-up technique using Tyrod's Talp PVA medium at room temperature. Penetration was considered when the spermatozoa head decondensation was visualized within the oocyte. This assay showed 15.4% penetrations (350/2275 oocytes). Results of this study showed high sperm abnormalities, low sperm quality after cryopreservation, and low percentage of penetrations. However, the penetration results showed that the cryopreserved jaguar's semen can be used for artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and intra cytoplasmatic sperm injection, supporting the semen bank creation for this specie.