Evaluation of reproductive parameters of vas deferens sperms in Caucasian snake (Gloydius halys caucasicus)

Reproductive parameters evaluation is considered as helpful tool for gene bank formation in ecological and economically important animals species. Gloydius halys caucasicus is venomous, viviparous pit viper of northwest of Iran. In this research, the spermatic reproductive parameters of this taxon were studied. Twenty six male snakes were collected from Takht-e-Soleiman region between September and October, ۲۰۱۰. Findings revealed that male snakes with body length of ۴۵.۰۷ ± ۲.۸۳ cm and body weight of ۵۱.۵۰ ± ۱۰.۴۲ g, and right and left gonads volume of ۰.۱۲ ± ۰.۰۳ mL and ۰.۰۶ ± ۰.۰۱ mL are mature ones and sperms concentration in first, middle and final regions of vas deferens duct were, ۲۲.۳۰ ± ۱۹.۳۴ ×۱۰۶ mL-۱, ۳۰.۳۴ ± ۱۱.۵۵ ×۱۰۶ mL-۱, and ۳۷.۶۵ ± ۱۶.۴۶×۱۰۶ mL-۱, respectively. The sperms motility at three regions of duct were ۶۰.۵۳%, ۶۲.۰۷%, and ۶۰.۰۰% and percentage of immotile sperms in these regions were ۳۹.۴۶%, ۳۷.۹۲%, and ۳۹.۸۴%, respectively. Percentage of morphologically normal sperms was ۶۹.۲۳ ± ۱۰.۵۷% and abnormal sperms was ۳۰.۷۶ ± ۱۰.۵۷%; including ۱۲.۶۹ ± ۵.۲۵% spiral tailed, ۷.۳۳ ± ۴.۳۷% coiled tailed and ۴.۱۶ ± ۲.۵۱% folded tailed sperms. Percentage of live sperms in the first, middle and final regions of duct were ۵۵.۷۶ ± ۱۰.۷۷%, ۵۸.۸۴ ± ۱۲.۷۷%, and ۵۷.۶۹ ± ۹.۹۱%, respectively and percentage of dead sperm in these regions were ۴۴.۲۳ ± ۱۰.۷۷%, ۴۱.۱۵ ± ۱۲.۷۷%, and ۴۲.۳۰ ± ۹.۹۱%, respectively. Results suggested, mature sperms with acceptable reproductive quality could be collected from Gloydius halys caucasicus snake of Iran between September and October.

Keywords:

Snake , Sperm , Motility , Vitality , Morphology