Schmitt D L, Hildebrandt T B
Department of Agriculture, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield 65804, USA.
Anim Reprod Sci. 1998 Oct;53(1-4):309-14. doi: 10.1016/s0378-4320(98)00120-1.
The implications of collecting semen from elephants for use in artificial insemination programs are profound in the context of propagating captive elephants. Using a manual manipulation technique, semen was collected and characterized from five adult Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and ejaculate fluid was obtained from one castrated elephant bull. The penis was stimulated to protrusion and erection by rectal massage of the pelvic portion of the urethra. During an ejaculatory response, massage was also directed onto the area of the ampulla of the ductus deferens. Sperm rich ejaculates were usually collected as a result of each ejaculatory contraction. Ejaculates were evaluated for spermatozoal concentration and pH (when possible) and sperm rich fractions combined for determination of total volume. Mean total volume of each collection was 27.5+/-4.4 ml. Mean concentration of the first and second ejaculatory responses from a collection was 2.05+/-0.17 x 10(9) and 1.34+/-0.19 x 10(9) sperm/ml, respectively. Measurement of seminal pH revealed no significant differences between the fractions. Mean pH of the first and second ejaculatory responses were 7.05+/-0.07 and 7.04+/-0.13. This method of collecting elephant sperm can be utilized for semen evaluation of bulls of unknown reproductive status in conjunction with other evaluation techniques (i.e. ultrasonographic, endocrinologic). It also has the potential for providing valuable genetic material for genome resource banks and for use with assisted reproductive techniques like artificial insemination.
在圈养大象繁殖的背景下，采集大象精液用于人工授精项目具有深远意义。采用手动操作技术，从5头成年亚洲象（印度象）采集精液并进行特征分析，还从1头阉割雄象获取了射精液。通过直肠按摩尿道盆腔部分刺激阴茎突出和勃起。在射精反应过程中，也对输精管壶腹区域进行按摩。每次射精收缩通常能采集到富含精子的精液。对精液进行精子浓度和pH值（可能时）评估，并将富含精子的部分合并以测定总体积。每次采集的平均总体积为27.5±4.4毫升。每次采集的第一次和第二次射精反应的平均浓度分别为2.05±0.17×10⁹和1.34±0.19×10⁹个精子/毫升。精液pH值测量显示各部分之间无显著差异。第一次和第二次射精反应的平均pH值分别为7.05±0.07和7.04±0.13。这种采集大象精子的方法可与其他评估技术（如超声检查、内分泌学）结合，用于评估生殖状况未知的雄象精液。它还有为基因组资源库提供有价值遗传物质以及用于人工授精等辅助生殖技术的潜力。
