Sperm cryopreservation in an Australian skink ().

Assisted reproductive technologies for population and genetic management for threatened herpetofauna have grown substantially in the past decade. Here we describe experiments to optimise sperm cryopreservation in a model squamate, the eastern water skink Eulamprus quoyii . Small, concentrated volumes of highly motile spermatozoa were reliably collected from adult male E.

Effect of long-term dietary beta-carotene supplementation on sperm concentration and motility in an endangered amphibian.

Dietary carotenoids have a high antioxidant capacity, so it has been hypothesised that carotenoid supplimentation will improve sperm production and quality by protecting sperm from oxidative damage. The effects of carotenoids on sperm have only been assessed in three vertebrate species, and evidence for improved sperm concentration and motility remains equivocal. One reason for this might be that in most studies there has not been an assessment of the effects of single carotenoid compounds over a range of doses.

Dose and life stage-dependent effects of dietary beta-carotene supplementation on the growth and development of the Booroolong frog.

Carotenoids are known for their antioxidant capacity and are considered to play an important role in vertebrate growth and development. However, evidence for their beneficial effects remains limited, possibly because very few studies have tested for dose effects across different life stages. The present study investigated the effect of various doses of dietary beta-carotene supplements on the growth and development of larval and post-metamorphic Booroolong frogs ().

Sperm motility activation in the critically endangered booroolong frog: the effect of medium osmolality and phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

Effective activation of sperm motility is fundamental to successful artificial fertilisation; however, studies investigating optimal procedures in amphibians are lacking. This study found the optimal osmolality of activation media for sperm motility activation and evaluated the effect of phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors on sperm activation and longevity in the critically endangered booroolong frog, Litoria booroolongensis. To assess the effect of medium osmolality (10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 200mOsmolkg) and PDE inhibitors (control, 2.

The effect of gentamicin on sperm motility and bacterial abundance during chilled sperm storage in the Booroolong frog.

Antibiotics can inhibit bacterial contamination and extend sperm longevity during storage; a primary goal of captive facilities conducting biobanking and artificial fertilisation (AF). This study evaluated the effects of gentamicin on the short-term storage of Booroolong frog sperm. Sperm suspensions were obtained via either testis maceration, or as spermic urine, following hormonal induction of sperm-release.

Antibiotics and oxygen availability affect the short-term storage of spermatozoa from the critically endangered booroolong frog, Litoria booroolongensis.

Sperm-storage technologies aim to extend sperm longevity and increase the time available to achieve artificial fertilisation. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effects of antibiotic supplementation (4mgmL(-1) gentamicin) and altered gaseous storage environment (100%, 20% and 0% O2) on sperm longevity in the critically endangered booroolong frog, Litoria booroolongensis. A split-sample experimental design was adopted, whereby each sperm suspension (n=10) was evenly divided among six experimental treatments (100% O2 with antibiotic, 20% O2 with antibiotic, 0% O2 with antibiotic, 100% O2 without antibiotic, 20% O2 without antibiotic, 0% O2 without antibiotic).