Journal of Andrology
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Published-Ahead-of-Print April 8, 2010, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.109.009787

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Duration of Spermatogenesis and Spermatogenic Efficiency in Two Large Neotropical Rodent Species: The Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) and Paca (Agouti paca)

Guilherme Costa , Marcelo Leal , Ana Ferreira , Diva Guimarães , and Luiz França *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: lrfranca{at}icb.ufmg.br.

The agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) and paca (Agouti paca) are among the largest rodent species alive. Although these species have considerable economic potential, there are few reports in the literature concerning male reproductive biology in sexually mature agoutis and pacas. The objectives of the present study were to perform a detailed stereological and histological analysis of the testis and estimate spermatogenic cycle length in these two Neotropical rodent species as well as to compare the data with those from other well-studied rodent members of the Hystrichomorpha and Myomorpha suborders. Eight adult agoutis and six adult pacas were used. The spermatogenic cycle in agoutis and pacas lasted 9.5 ± 0.03 and 11.5 ± 0.16 days, respectively, whereas the total duration of spermatogenesis for these two species was 42.8 ± 0.16 and 51.6 ± 0.7 days, respectively. Most of the parameters investigated were similar to those obtained for the other members of the Hystrochomorpha suborder. As a result of the combination of high values of seminiferous tubule volume density, number of Sertoli cells per gram of testis, Sertoli cell efficiency and a relatively short duration of spermatogenesis, the spermatogenic efficiency found in agoutis (52 ± 2 x 106) and pacas (39 ± 2 x 106) was particularly high when compared to previously investigated mammalian species. The data presented in this investigation would be useful for studies related to animal production as well as improvement and conservation programs involving these two large Neotropical rodent species.


Key words: Spermatogenesis • Testis • Agouti (Dasyprocta sp.) • Leydig cells • Paca (Agouti paca) • Sertoli cells • spermatogenic efficiency






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