Sperm evaluation and morphological description of male genitalia of meerkats (Suricata suricatta).

In ex situ conditions, little is known about the reproductive biology of meerkats. The aim of present study was to describe the morphological aspects of male genital organs and accessory glands using macroscopic evaluation, ultrasonography, and radiography, as well as describing semen characteristics post-electroejaculation. The results indicated anatomical characteristics of meerkats are very similar to those of cats, having a prostate, accessory bulbourethral glands, and an elongated and radiopaque structure in the penis, which is indicative of there being a baculum. The testicular volume was 0.81 cm³ (± 0.10) and the relative testis weight was 1.37 cm³/kg (± 0.15). Both testicles are present in the scrotum, which has an ellipsoidal shape, homogeneous texture, hypoechoic parenchyma and are encased in a hyperechoic tunica albuginea. Electroejaculation was effectively induced in all animals for semen collection with utilization of medetomidine and ketamine. The values semen samples variables were as follows for volume - 0.125 ±â€¯0.193 mL, motility - 19.8 ±â€¯18.6 %, vigor - 1.9 ±â€¯1.0, concentration - 40.5 ±â€¯25.2 × 106 sperm/mL and morphologically normal sperm - 10.8 ±â€¯6.6 %. This is the first study in which there is a description of morphological and imaging aspects of the male reproductive tracts of meerkats, as well as the seminal characteristics after using electroejaculation for semen collection. Knowledge of anatomical and seminal characteristics is essential for implementation of assisted reproduction programs, as well as reproductive management in the species.

Aspectos morfológicos dos componentes do funículo espermático em jumentos nordestinos / Morphological aspects of the spermatic cord components in Brazilian Northeastern donkeys

Introdução - Objetivou-se estudar os principais componentes do funículo espermático do jumento nordestino. Material e Métodos - Foram utilizados 16 pares de funículos espermáticos de jumentos nordestinos adultos de diferentes idades, em quatro deles realizou-se estudo histológico, em 10 pares injetou-se solução de Neoprene látex "650" corado de vermelho, na artéria testicular para medir seu comprimento, em outros 2 pares foi injetado acetato de vinil para estudar seu arranjo vascular. Resultados e Conclusões - Histologicamente seus componentes encontram-se envolvidos por delgada e pregueada cápsula de tecido conjuntivo denso, revestido por mesotélio, sob ela encontra-se o músculo cremaster interno. A artéria testicular contida no funículo apresenta forma irregular, trajeto sinuoso, túnica interna formada por endotélio e pequena camada de tecido conjuntivo subendotelial, lâmina limitante elástica interna, túnica média com espessa camada muscular lisa. As veias testiculares apresentaram-se desprovidas de válvulas, túnica média constituída por fibras musculares lisas, com amplas projeções para o interior do vaso apoiadas em irregular rede de fibras reticulares e fibras elásticas, adventícia constituída por delgada camada de tecido conjuntivo denso e fibras elásticas. Mesoducto deferente apresenta espessa camada de tecido conjuntivo denso revestido por mesotélio, abaixo desta cápsula aparece conjunto vasculo-nervoso envolvido por tecido conjuntivo frouxo. Segmentos das artérias testiculares contidas nos funículos espermáticos apresentaram como medida média 84,65 cm à direita e 82,7 cm à esquerda. O funículo espermático possui a forma cônica, achatado látero-lateralmente, base assentada sobre a margem epididimária, com artéria testicular envolvida parcialmente pelo plexo pampiniforme.

Introduction - The aim of this research was to study the morphological aspects of spermatic cord in Brazilian Northeastern donkey. Material and Method - Sixteen pairs of spermatic cord were used, 4 of them to see the histologically aspects of their components, in another 10 pairswas injected Neoprene Látex "650" painted of red in the testicular artery to measure it length, in another 2 pairs was injected with vinyl acetate to study the vascular arrangement. Results and Conclusions - Histologically the components of spermatic cord were involved by a thin and pleated capsule of dense connective tissue, involved by the mesothelium, beneath this capsule is the internal cremaster muscle. The testicular artery in the spermatic cord has a irregular and sinuous course, endothelium and fragile layer of connective tissue with the internal elastic limiting lamina, media tunica formed by a thick layer of smooth musculature, in a round formation, sustained by an ordely net of reticular fibers and this adventitia tunica formed mainly by dense connective tissue rich in elastic fibers. Non-valve veins testicular, media tunica irregulary formed by smooth muscle fibers with large projections in the vase, supported by an irregular reticular fibers net formed by elastic fibers, adventitia tunica composed by a ticklish layer of dense connective tissue and elastic fibers. Deferent mesoduct shows thick layer of dense connective tissue envolved by mesothelium, below this capsula, there is a vascular-nervous joint involved by loose connective tissue. Testicular artery segments of spermatic cord lengths had presented as measured average 84,65cm at the right and 82,7 cm at the left. The spermatic cord has a conic shape, latero-laterally flatened with the basis settled orchis epididymal edge.