Epididymal Sperm Characteristics of Iranian Short-Haired Cats

The aim of this study was to assess epididymal sperm parameters in Iranian short-haired cats. The study examined the epididymal sperm quality in seven Iranian short-haired cats (aged 1–4 years) undergoing routine orchiectomy at the Veterinary Hospital of Veterinary Faculty, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran, between January and March 2024. Sperm samples were collected from the tail of the epididymis in normal saline, filtered, and evaluated for one hour. Motility was assessed using light microscopy, morphology was evaluated using Giemsa staining, and viability was determined using Eosin-Nigrosin staining. The mean sperm concentration was 20.6 million/mL, with progressive motility of 57.0% and viability of 67.1%. Morphologically, 65.9 % of sperm were normal, with defects in 6.9% of the head, 13.5% of the body, 10.6% of the tail, and 3.1% showing cytoplasmic droplets. The mean and standard deviation (μm) for sperm head length, width, and perimeter were 4.39±0.06, 2.20±0.04, and 12.71±0.18, respectively. The sperm head area was 9.70±0.25 μm², and the sperm tail length was 28.11±0.88 μm. Testicular weights averaged 1.02 g (left) and 1.038 g (right). A positive correlation between motility and viability was observed (r = 0.68, p < 0.01). These findings provide valuable information on epididymal sperm in Iranian short-haired cats, with implications for feline breeding and conservation. Further research is needed to investigate factors such as acrosome integrity and environmental influences on sperm quality.