Journal article
Post-testicular sperm maturation in the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus: assessing the temporal acquisition of sperm motility
Reproduction, Fertility and Development, Vol.33(9), pp.530-539
2021
PMID: 33631095
Abstract
Conservation efforts to secure the long-term survival of crocodilian species would benefit from the establishment of a frozen sperm bank in concert with artificial breeding technologies to maintain genetic diversity among captive assurance populations. Working towards this goal, our research has focused on the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus as a tractable model for understanding crocodilian sperm physiology. In extending our systematic characterisation of saltwater crocodile spermatozoa, in this study we examined the development of motility during sperm transport through the excurrent duct system of the male crocodile. The results show that approximately 20% of crocodile testicular spermatozoa are immediately motile but experience a gradient of increasing motility (percentage motile and rate of movement) as they transit the male reproductive tract (epididymis). Moreover, we confirmed that, as in ejaculated crocodile spermatozoa, increased intracellular cAMP levels promoted a significant and sustained enhancement of sperm motility regardless of whether the cells were isolated from the testis or epididymis. Along with the development of artificial reproductive technologies, this research paves the way for the opportunistic recovery, storage and potential utilisation of post-mortem spermatozoa from genetically valuable animals.
Details
- Title
- Post-testicular sperm maturation in the saltwater crocodile Crocodylus porosus: assessing the temporal acquisition of sperm motility
- Authors
- Brett Nixon (Corresponding Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaAmanda L Anderson (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaElizabeth G. Bromfield (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaJacinta Martin (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaShenae L. Cafe (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaDavid A Skerrett-Byrne (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaMatthew D Dun (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaAndrew Eamens (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaGeoffry N De Iuliis (Author) - University of Newcastle AustraliaStephen Douglas Johnston (Author) - University of Queensland
- Publication details
- Reproduction, Fertility and Development, Vol.33(9), pp.530-539
- Publisher
- C S I R O Publishing
- DOI
- 10.1071/RD20204
- ISSN
- 1448-5990
- PMID
- 33631095
- Grant note
- FT140101368 / Australian Research Council Future Fellowship; Australian Research Council
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health - Biomedicine
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99656593502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
Metrics
8 Record Views
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Developmental Biology
- Reproductive Biology
- Zoology
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Source: InCites