How the Scrotal Conformation can Influence the Semen Quality in Goats?

Many researchers report that bucks breed in arid and semi-arid lands non-rarely present bipartition on scrotum (segmentation similar to bifid scrotum), this characteristic is reported as an adaptation to hot weather. However, actually we do not know how this characteristic influences on sperm biology. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of scrotal morphology in sperm characteristics of goats. Were collected 42 ejaculates from seven bucks (12 to 24 months old) by artificial vagina. Four animals did not have external bipartition of scrotal raphe (G1) and three had external bipartition until 50% of testicular length (G2). After traditional evaluation, semen were frozen, thawed and evaluated to plasma membrane by hypoosmotic swelling test and fluorescent stains (propidium iodite combined to carboxifluorescein diacetate: PI + CAD), acrosome (PI + CAD) and mitochondrial activity (oxidation of 3-3´diaminebenzidine). Our results showed the scrotal morphology does not influence on sperm ultrastructure (plasma membrane, acrosome or mitochondria), only on percentage of tail defect and post-thaw vigor, but this findings do not affect the sperm fertility of goats.