Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age
Sexual maturity and body condition are interconnected in many mammals. For non-domestic felids held in human care, the effect of body condition on male fertility has not been studied, although obesity is a recognized problem for many species such as the African lion (Panthera leo) under captive cond...
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Theriogenology Wild |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000242 |
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| author | Imke Lueders Johanna Reuken Ilse Luther Gerhard van der Horst Antoinette Kotze Adrian Tordiffe Harald Sieme Ulrike Jakop Karin Mueller |
| author_facet | Imke Lueders Johanna Reuken Ilse Luther Gerhard van der Horst Antoinette Kotze Adrian Tordiffe Harald Sieme Ulrike Jakop Karin Mueller |
| author_sort | Imke Lueders |
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| description | Sexual maturity and body condition are interconnected in many mammals. For non-domestic felids held in human care, the effect of body condition on male fertility has not been studied, although obesity is a recognized problem for many species such as the African lion (Panthera leo) under captive conditions.Here, we assessed body weight, body condition via body condition score (BCS), reproductive organ appearance and size by ultrasonography and semen parameters as a function of age in a large population of captive male lions housed in different facilities in South Africa. Of 59 individuals (age range 2.5–10 years), we rated 21 (36 %) of the males (≥ 4 years) as highly obese (BCS 8–9). Semen collection via urethral catheter was successful in 49 males (83.0 %). Sperm were found in 44 males (74.6 %) across all age groups. Sperm motility and detailed sperm morphology was assessed in 42 and 18 lions, respectively.As expected, body weight and reproductive organ size increased with age, but only the testis size increased in proportion to BCS. Although our data are unbalanced, as older animals (already after five years of age) were more often obese, they suggest an optimum age and body condition for potential fertility with adequate physical maturity in male lions. Physical maturity appeared to be reached between the ages of three and five years, which is later than sexual maturity in male lions.Lions that far exceeded the normal body weight range and had a BCS of 8 or 9 had lower semen quantity and quality. Therefore, male lions in captivity are in prime breeding condition when physical maturity is combined with a BCS < 8.Our data contribute towards interpretation of fertility assessments in managed breeding programs for lions. Ultrasonographic appearance of the reproductive organs, BCS and semen parameters can help to identify and select breeding males. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-710000b138a842f6a13da6c8387fec26 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2773-093X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Theriogenology Wild |
| spelling | doaj-art-710000b138a842f6a13da6c8387fec262024-12-12T05:24:45ZengElsevierTheriogenology Wild2773-093X2024-01-015100093Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding ageImke Lueders0Johanna Reuken1Ilse Luther2Gerhard van der Horst3Antoinette Kotze4Adrian Tordiffe5Harald Sieme6Ulrike Jakop7Karin Mueller8GEOlifes - Animal Fertility and Reproductive Research, Berger 12c, Nordkirchen 59394, Germany; National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, 323 Boom Street, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; Westfälischer Zoologischer Garten Münster GmbH, Sentruper Str. 315, Münster 48161, Germany; Corresponding author at: GEOlifes - Animal Fertility and Reproductive Research, Berger 12c, Nordkirchen 59394, Germany.Westfälischer Zoologischer Garten Münster GmbH, Sentruper Str. 315, Münster 48161, Germany; Unit for Reproductive Medicine of the clinics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 15, Hannover 30559, GermanyDepartment of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South AfricaNational Zoological Gardens of South Africa, 323 Boom Street, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South AfricaNational Zoological Gardens of South Africa, 323 Boom Street, Pretoria 0110, South AfricaNational Zoological Gardens of South Africa, 323 Boom Street, Pretoria 0110, South Africa; Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South AfricaUnit for Reproductive Medicine of the clinics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 15, Hannover 30559, GermanyDepartment of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Reproduction Biology, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, Berlin 10315, GermanyDepartment of Reproduction Biology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Reproduction Biology, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, Berlin 10315, GermanySexual maturity and body condition are interconnected in many mammals. For non-domestic felids held in human care, the effect of body condition on male fertility has not been studied, although obesity is a recognized problem for many species such as the African lion (Panthera leo) under captive conditions.Here, we assessed body weight, body condition via body condition score (BCS), reproductive organ appearance and size by ultrasonography and semen parameters as a function of age in a large population of captive male lions housed in different facilities in South Africa. Of 59 individuals (age range 2.5–10 years), we rated 21 (36 %) of the males (≥ 4 years) as highly obese (BCS 8–9). Semen collection via urethral catheter was successful in 49 males (83.0 %). Sperm were found in 44 males (74.6 %) across all age groups. Sperm motility and detailed sperm morphology was assessed in 42 and 18 lions, respectively.As expected, body weight and reproductive organ size increased with age, but only the testis size increased in proportion to BCS. Although our data are unbalanced, as older animals (already after five years of age) were more often obese, they suggest an optimum age and body condition for potential fertility with adequate physical maturity in male lions. Physical maturity appeared to be reached between the ages of three and five years, which is later than sexual maturity in male lions.Lions that far exceeded the normal body weight range and had a BCS of 8 or 9 had lower semen quantity and quality. Therefore, male lions in captivity are in prime breeding condition when physical maturity is combined with a BCS < 8.Our data contribute towards interpretation of fertility assessments in managed breeding programs for lions. Ultrasonographic appearance of the reproductive organs, BCS and semen parameters can help to identify and select breeding males.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000242African lionBody weightObesityReproductionSemenUltrasonography |
| spellingShingle | Imke Lueders Johanna Reuken Ilse Luther Gerhard van der Horst Antoinette Kotze Adrian Tordiffe Harald Sieme Ulrike Jakop Karin Mueller Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age Theriogenology Wild African lion Body weight Obesity Reproduction Semen Ultrasonography |
| title | Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age |
| title_full | Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age |
| title_fullStr | Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age |
| title_short | Effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male African lion (Panthera leo): Suggesting a prime breeding age |
| title_sort | effect of age and body condition score on reproductive organ size and sperm parameters in captive male african lion panthera leo suggesting a prime breeding age |
| topic | African lion Body weight Obesity Reproduction Semen Ultrasonography |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773093X24000242 |
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