FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF CHIMPANZEE (PAN-TROGLODYTES) SPERM FROM EJACULATES COLLECTED BY RECTAL PROBE ELECTROSTIMULATION AND BY ARTIFICIAL VAGINA

This study compares functional parameters of sperm hom ejaculates coll ected from 15 adult male chimpanzees using rectal probe electrostimula tion (RPE) and from 10 adult male chimpanzees trained to use an artifi cial vagina (AV). Computer assisted motion analysis (CAMA) showed no s ignificant differences in mean values for straight line velocity (VSL) , linearity (LIN), curvilinear velocity (VCL), and lateral head moveme nt (ALH) of sperm from ejaculates collected by RPE and by AV. There wa s, however, a significant difference (P < 0.01) in the population dist ribution for VSL and LIN, which indicates that sperm swim in a more co nvoluted manner in ejaculates collected by RPE than in ejaculates coll ected by AV. In the hamster zona-free ovum penetration assay (SPA), th ere were no significant differences in the percentages of hamster oocy tes penetrated by sperm or in the number of sperm which penetrated eac h oocyte after 4 or 24 h incubation using sperm from ejaculates collec ted by RPE and by AV. Therefore, the lack. of success using sperm from ejaculates collected by RPE to initiate pregnancy in the chimpanzee d oes not appear to result from abnormalities in sperm fertilizing capac ity as measured in SPA. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.