Animal Health

Increasing the knowledge of the semen characteristics in the alpaca will contribute to understanding one of the many factors that affect the poor fertility rate in this species. Ten adult male alpacas, 2.6–10 years of age, average weight 64.7±4.7 kg were used. The animals were distributed randomly into two groups of five each and submitted alternatively to two semen collections, using an artificial vagina and sexually receptive females. For the first semen collection the animals had a sexual rest period of about 90 and 45 days before the second. Duration of semen collection, color and volume of ejaculate were recorded, and sperm concentration and morphology (light microscopy) were evaluated. Descriptive statistical analyses were used for each variable, considering all samples obtained (n=19). An analysis of variance for animal groups and opportunity of collection were used for quantitative variables. Most frequent color was opalescent white (84.2%). There were no statistical differences among male groups or between semen collections. The average values and standard deviations for the quantitative variables were: 12.3±7.2 min for semen collection time, 1.8±0.8 ml for ejaculate volume, (17.6±26.1)×106 sperm/ml for sperm concentration and 34.0±52.2×106 for total number of sperm per ejaculate. The percentage of normal spermatozoa was 51.0±12.4%. From the total abnormalities, that of mid piece segment (14.4%) was the most frequent. These results indicate that male alpaca have poor semen quality, when compared with other domestic species. Nevertheless, for the evaluation of male alpaca as breeders it would be necessary to create a protocol for the selection of them, where phenotypic, behavioral and seminogram aspects are considered. The values reported herein define the characteristics of the alpaca semen that could be considered as the initial base of the seminal analysis to select male alpacas before mating. more »

The effect of four enzymes: collagenase, fibrinolysin, hyalurodinase, and trypsin were recorded on the viscosity, motility,percent live spermatozoa and acrosome integrity of Llama and Alpaca semen. Semen samples were collected using a modified artificial vagina for each of the five llamas and five alpacas. A 25% solution of the of enzyme at a concentration of 1 mg/ml was added to the ejaculate. Analysis of variance was used to determine differences in eliminating viscosity and alterations in motility, percent live spermatozoa and the acrosomal integrity at 0 (time of semen collection), 2 and 5 min. In Llama and Alpaca semen, collagenase eliminated viscosity in 100 and 99% of the samples, respectively. Correspondingly, fibrinolysin in 89 and 59%; hyalurodinase in 88 and 36%; and trypsin in 55 and 68% of the samples (p more »

A component in seminal fluid elicits an ovulatory response and has been discovered in every species examined thus far. The existence of an ovulation-inducing factor (OIF) in seminal plasma has broad implications and evokes questions about identity, tissue sources, mechanism of action, role among species, and clinical relevance in infertility. Most of these questions remain unanswered. The goal of this study was to determine the identity of OIF in support of the hypothesis that it is a single distinct and widely conserved entity. Seminal plasma from llamas and bulls was used as representative of induced and spontaneous ovulators, respectively. A fraction isolated from llama seminal plasma by column chromatography was identified as OIF by eliciting luteinizing hormone (LH) release and ovulation in llamas. MALDI-TOF revealed a molecular mass of 13,221 Da, and 12–23 aa sequences of OIF had homology with human, porcine, bovine, and murine sequences of β nerve growth factor (β-NGF). X-ray diffraction data were used to solve the full sequence and structure of OIF as β-NGF. Neurite development and up-regulation of trkA in phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cells in vitro confirmed NGF-like properties of OIF. Western blot analysis of llama and bull seminal plasma confirmed immunorecognition of OIF using polyclonal mouse anti-NGF, and administration of β-NGF from mouse submandibular glands induced ovulation in llamas. We conclude that OIF in seminal plasma is β-NGF and that it is highly conserved. An endocrine route of action of NGF elucidates a previously unknown pathway for the direct influence of the male on the hypothalamo–pituitary–gonadal axis of the inseminated female. more »