Abstract

RESTREPO BETANCUR, Giovanni; VARELA GIRALDO, Elizabeth  and  USUGA SUAREZ, Alexandra. Evaluation of epididymal spermatic quality of hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius (Artiodactyla: Hippopotamidae) located in the Colombian Middle Magdalena. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.2, pp.158-167. ISSN 2448-8445.

Common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) is a mammal of the Artiodactyla order, living in Africa, with a declining population globally. With genetic conservation purposes, there have been processes of reproductive biotechnology, among which it is reported, recovery of sperm by methods as electroejaculation and extraction from the epididymis. This mammal is considered an exotic and invasive species was introduced in Colombia 1985; currently it reproduces out of control in the Middle Magdalena region. As a means of population control, it has performed the surgical sterilization of some specimens. The aim of this study was to evaluate different sperm and histological parameters related with epididymal semen quality of common hippopotamus located in the Colombian Middle Magdalena. Two hippopotamus were surgically orchiectomized and sperm were recovered by the combined methods of retrograde washing and medium injection. It was evaluated the sperm motility (SCA(r) system), the sperm vitality and morphology (supravital test), the mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1), the acrosomal integrity (FITC-PNA), and the structural (SYBR14 / IP) and functional (HOS test) plasmatic membrane integrity. Also histological analysis of testis and epididymis were performed. Except for progressive motility, functional membrane integrity and sperm morphology, very similar results for semen quality parameters for both individuals were found. The predominant sperm abnormalities were cytoplasmic droplet and coiled tail. Histological analysis showed an active spermatogenesis process. We conclude that, after orchiectomy in common hippopotamus located in a non-native habitat, epididymal sperm extraction allows to obtain good quality sperm samples.

Keywords : Colombia; sperm kinetics; histology.