Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T04:29:55.540Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A comparative study of sperm, sexual hormone concentrations and sexual activity in yearling and adult males of the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2016

L.V. Osadchuk
L.V. Osadchuk*
Affiliation:
Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk, 630090 Russia
Get access

Abstract

The silver fox is an extreme seasonal breeder with one reproductive season during the year. Males are sexually mature at the age of 9 to 10 months. In the present study reproductive function in yearling and adult silver fox males before and during the reproductive period was examined. The aim was to determine the age-dependent features of their reproductive system. It was found that yearling males mate with a smaller number of females and that their first mating period is shorter compared with adult foxes. A high proportion of yearling males did not mate at all (27%) or their sexual activity was reduced (26%), although the number of pups horn from mating males was normal. During the peak of male sexual activity, the number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate was lower in yearling compared with adult males. However, there was no difference in the number of abnormal forms of spermatozoa between the two groups. There was no significant difference in sperm numbers between sexually active and inactive yearlings. Before the reproductive season, yearling males did not differ from adults in plasma concentration of testosterone, while body and testes weights and level of oestradiol were lower. At the end of the breeding season, yearlings did not differ from adults in any trait. It is concluded that the reproductive capacity of yearling male foxes might he immature before the first breeding seasons but that this immaturity did not decrease their reproductive success.

Keywords

oestradiolreproductionspermatozoatestosteroneVulpes vulpes
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Science , Volume 68 , Issue 4 , June 1999 , pp. 723 - 729
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aamdal, J., Fougner, J. and Nyberg, K. 1978. Artificial insemination in foxes. Symposium of the Zoology Society, London, vol. 43,pp. 241–248.Google Scholar
Barta, M. and Babusik, P. 1993. [Evaluation of spermiogenesis and fertilizing capacity of ejaculates in inactive fox males (Vulpes vulpes) using the penetration capacity test.] Acta Zootechnica 48: 57–65.Google Scholar
Forsberg, M. 1992. Seasonal breeding and the significance of light. In Reproduction in carnivorous fur bearing animals (ed. Tauson, A. H. and Valtonen, M.), pp. 17–38. Nordiska Jordbruksforskares Forening, Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Forsberg, M. and Madej, A. 1990. Effects of melatonin implants on plasma concentrations of testosterone, thyroxine and prolactin in the male silver fox (Vulpes vulpes). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 89: 351–358.Google Scholar
Fougner, J. A. 1989. Artificial insemination in fox breeding. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 39: 317–323.Google Scholar
Fougner, J. A. and Forsberg, M. 1987. Effect of different sperm numbers on fertility after artificial insemination of foxes. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavia 28: 403–407.Google Scholar
Jalkanen, L. 1992. Sperm quality in silver fox, variation and relation to the breeding results. In Reproduction in carnivorous fur bearing animals (ed. Tauson, A. H. and Valtonen, M.), pp. 139–143. Nordiska Jordbruksforskares Forening, Copenhagen.Google Scholar
Jalkanen, L. 1993. Sperm abnormalities in silver fox (Vulpes vulpes) semen selected for artificial insemination. Journal of Reproduction and Fertility, Supplement 47: 287–290.Google Scholar
Joffre, M. 1977. Relationship between testicular blood flow: testosterone secretion and spermatogenic activity in young and adult wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 51: 35–40.Google Scholar
Korhonen, H. and Alasuutari, S. 1995. Dominance relations in captive groups of adult and juvenile arctic blue foxes (Alopex lagopus). Polar Biology 15: 353–358.Google Scholar
Korhonen, H. and Niemela, P. 1993. Evaluation of the relationship between social status and reproductive performance in farmed blue foxes. Reproduction, Nutrition, Development 33: 289–295.Google Scholar
Lanszki, J., Udvardy, J. and Lengyel, K.. 1996. The effect of age on sexual activity of arctic and of silver fox males. Applied science reports, Polish Society of Animal Production, vol. 27, pp. 223–240.Google Scholar
Macdonald, D. W. 1980. Social factors affecting reproduction amongst red foxes {Vulpes vulpes L., 1758). In Biogeographica, vol. 18. The red fox. Reproduction and ecology (ed. Zimen, E.), pp. 123–175. Dr W. Junk bv Publishers, The Hague, London.Google Scholar
Maurel, D. and Boissin, J. 1981. Plasma thyroxine and testosterone levels in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) during the annual cycle. General and Comparative Endocrinology 43: 402–404.Google Scholar
Osadchuk, L. V. 1992. [Age peculiarities of reproductive function in males of silver-black foxes.] Seľskokhozyaistvennaya Biologiya N 4: 26–31.Google Scholar
Osadchuk, L. V. 1993. Sexual steroid hormones in the reproductive cycle of silver fox. Norwegian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7: 189–201.Google Scholar
Osadchuk, L. V. 1997. Steroid hormones and reproductive behaviour in silver fox males. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde, Supplement 2: 164–169.Google Scholar
Osadchuk, L. V., Jalkanen, L., Philimonenko, A. A. and Gultjaeva, V. V. 1998. Changes of testosterone level and sperm production and morphology in male silver foxes Vulpes vulpes throughout the breeding season. Scientifur 22: 121–126.Google Scholar
Price, E. O. 1997. Behavioural aspects of domestication and feralization. Proceedings of the 31st international congress of the ISAE, 13-16 August, Prague (ed. Hemsworth, P.H., Spinka, M. and Kostal, L.), pp. 47–48.Google Scholar
Smith, A. J., Mondain-Monval, M., Moller, O. M., Scholler, R. and Hansson, V. 1985. Seasonal variations of LH, prolactin, androstenedione, testosterone and testicular FSH binding in the male blue fox (Alopex lagopus). Journal of Reproduction and Fertility 74: 449–458.Google Scholar