Seminal Concentration of Trace Elements in Fox and Relationships to Spermatozoa Quality

Concentrations of copper, zinc, iron, cadmium, lead, and nickel in the semen of foxes (Vulpes vulpes, n = 10), microscopic analysis of occurrence of pathological spermatozoa, and correlations of these elements with pathological forms were studied. Samples were analyzed by using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. For analysis of pathological spermatozoa semen samples fixed with Hancock's solution and stained with Giemsa were prepared. For each fox at least 1000 spermatozoa were evaluated. The concentrations of copper, zinc, and iron in semen of foxes were found to be 2.16 ± 0.53 mg/kg, 13.09 ± 5.22 mg/kg, and 33.16 ± 24.36 mg/kg, respectively, on wet weight basis. Concentration of cadmium was low (0.07 ± 0.05 mg/kg). The levels of lead and nickel in the semen of foxes were 0.08 ± 0.06 mg/kg and 0.35 ± 0.24 mg/kg, respectively. The total percentage of pathological spermatozoa was 7.76 ± 1.33% with predominancy of knob twisted flagellum, separated flagellum, and broken flagellum. In relation to trace elements the analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) correlation between copper and lead (r = −0.85), copper and other forms of pathological spermatozoa (r = −0.72), zinc and broken flagellum (r = −0.69), iron and retention of cytoplasmic drop (r = 0.87), cadmium and separated flagellum (r = −0.68), and between cadmium retention of cytoplasmic drop (r = 0.87). This study detected significant effects of various trace elements in normal fox semen on the spermatozoa quality.

Key Words :

• Fox
• Semen
• Copper
• Zinc
• Iron
• Cadmium
• Lead
• Nickel.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was supported with VEGA grant no. 1/9080/02 and 1/2417/05 of the Slovak Ministry of Education. We would like to express our thanks to Monika Burocziova, MS, for technical assistance.

Notes

± S.D.—standard deviation.

± S.D.—standard deviation.