Ejaculate Characteristics Depend on Social Environment in the Horse (Equus caballus).

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_13D486351EBC
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Ejaculate Characteristics Depend on Social Environment in the Horse (Equus caballus).
Journal
Plos One
Author(s)
Burger D., Dolivo G., Wedekind C.
ISSN
1932-6203 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1932-6203
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2015
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
10
Number
11
Pages
e0143185
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Sperm competition theory predicts semen characteristics to be affected by the social environment. We used the polygamous horse (Equus caballus) to experimentally study within-subject plasticity in response to different social environments. Stallions were sequentially exposed, over a period of 8 weeks each, to other stallions and then singly to mares, or vice versa (in adjacent boxes separated by grills). Ejaculates were collected to determine semen characteristics. Highest sperm numbers were found in stallions that were first exposed to other stallions and then to mares, while lowest sperm numbers were observed in stallions that had been exposed to mares but not yet to other stallions. One of three sperm velocity measures (curvilinear velocity) was consistently elevated in stallions that were first exposed to stallions and then to mares. Sperm number after exposure to mares and curvilinear sperm velocity after exposure to stallions were both positively correlated to average blood testosterone levels during the corresponding period of exposure. We conclude that ejaculate characteristics are plastic traits affected by the social environment in horses.
Keywords
Animals, Ejaculation, Horses, Male, Semen, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Social Environment, Sperm Count, Sperm Motility, Testosterone/blood
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
04/11/2015 5:36
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:42
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