Testicular morphometry, gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm reserves of camel (Camelus dromedarius) during the hot dry season in the Sahelian region of Nigeria

Livestock farmers may need a reference range of testicular sizes and sperm reserves to ascertain the reproductive efficiency of a male. However, information on camel testicular morphometry and gonadal sperm reserve in semi-arid Nigeria is scanty. This study was designed to provide information on testicular morphometry and gonadal and extragonadal sperm reserves of camels in the Sahel region of Nigeria. Testes of 15 mature and healthy camels were obtained after slaughter from the Maiduguri central abattoir. Scrotal circumference was measured on the live animal to the nearest centimetre. Weights of each testis, epididymis and its distinct parts and tunica albuginae were obtained to the nearest milligram. The length and width of each testis and the length of the distinct parts of the epididymis were measured to the nearest millimetre. Gonadal and extra-gonadal sperm reserves were also estimated. All data were subjected to descriptive statistics, paired sample t- test and correlation analysis. Scrotal circumference ranged from 24.00 to 49.00cm with an average of 38.59 ± 2.41cm. A high significant relationship (r = 0.69) between scrotal circumference and paired testis weight were observed. The left and right testes had similar sperm reserve. The sperm reserve of the left caput and caudal were however, higher (p>0.05) than those of the right. The mean epididymal sperm reserve for caput, corpus and caudal were 84.857×106, 268.71×106 and 542.79×106, respectively. It was concluded that testicular morphometric characteristics have the potential to be used in predicting sperm production capacity in live camels' bulls.        Les eleveurs peuvent avoir besoin d'une gamme de reference de tailles testiculaires et de reserves de sperme pour verifier l'efficacite reproductive d'un mâle. Cependant, l'information sur la morphometrie testiculaire de chameau et la reserve gonadale de sperme au Nigeria semi-aride est maigre. Cette etude a ete concue pour fournir des informations sur la morphometrie testiculaire et les reserves gonadales et extragonadales de spermatozoides de chameaux dans la region du Sahel au Nigeria. Des testicules de 15 chameaux matures et sains ont ete obtenus aupres de l'abat de l'abattoir central de Maiduguri. La circonference scrotale a ete mesuree sur l'animal vivant jusqu'au centimetre le plus proche. Des poids de chaque testicule, epididyme et ses parties distinctes et tunicaalbuginae ont ete obtenus au milligramme le plus proche. La longueur et la largeur de chaque testicule et la longueur des parties distinctes de l'epididyme ont ete mesurees au millimetre pres. Les reserves de sperme gonadal et extra-gonadal ont egalement ete estimees. Toutes les donnees ont fait l'objet de statistiques descriptives, d'un t-test apparie et d'une analyse de correlation. La circonferencescrotale s'est etendue de 24.00 a 49.00cm avec une moyenne de 38.59 ± 2.41cm. On a observe une relation significative elevee (r = 0,69) entre la circonference scrotale et le poids apparie des testicules. Les testicules gauche et droit ont eu la reserve semblable de sperme. La reserve de sperme du caput gauche et du caudal etaient toutefois plus elevees (p>0,05) que celles de la droite. La reserve epididymale moyenne de sperme pour le caput, le corpus et le caudal etaient 84.857×106, 268.71×106 et 542.79×106, respectivement. Il a ete conclu que les caracteristiques morphometriques testiculaires ont le potentiel d'etre utilisees pour predire la capacite de production de sperme chez les taureaux de chameaux vivants.