Year-round testicular volume and semen quality evaluations in captive Chinchilla lanigera

In mammals, reproductive performance is usually associated with seasons. Chinchilla lanigera, an endemic South American rodent, reproduces throughout the year in captivity but its seasonal breeding pattern is not fully understood. The present study was designed to evaluate (bi-weekly) over 1 year: (1) testicular volume variations and (2) seminal volume, sperm concentration and functional activity changes. Five animals were studied; they were individually housed indoors (22.2 ± 1.0 °C) under natural photoperiod in Argentina (Córdoba, 31°S-64°W). Semen was obtained by electroejaculation; a total of 116 ejaculates was evaluated. Monthly values for paired testicular volume were less in the middle of the summer than in other seasons (p < 0.006), while those for seminal volume and total spermatozoa/ejaculate were not significantly different; these variables ranged between 7.2-30.9 cm3, 10-130 μL and 0.9-432.6 × 106, respectively. Spermatozoa concentration was (×106/mL) 2145.9 ± 365.3 and the pH of semen was 7.3 ± 0.0. Spermatozoa functional activity showed no significant differences between monthly evaluations; confidence intervals were calculated for the means of: motility, 92.2-95.8%; viability, 92.2-96.1%; swollen cells (hypo-osmotic swelling test), 81.2-87.7% and viable intact acrosome, 83.5-89.0%. The present study represents the first longitudinal reproductive assessment in the chinchilla male. In conclusion, males produce spermatozoa continuously that exhibit high quality functional activity.