Semen Collection Techniques in Male Reproductive Physiology

Efficient and reliable semen collection is fundamental to animal breeding, conservation and studies of male fertility. Conventional methods include the use of an artificial vagina (AV) and manual stimulation, which mimic natural mating and generally yield high-quality ejaculates in trained domestic species. When animals cannot be trained or in wildlife and zoological settings, electroejaculation (EE) is widely employed; this technique uses controlled electrical impulses to induce ejaculation but raises welfare considerations owing to stress and muscle activation. Epididymal sperm recovery (ESR), performed post-mortem or after castration, provides an alternative source of gametes for genetic banking and conservation of valuable or endangered males. Advances in cryopreservation and post-thaw handling now permit long-term storage of spermatozoa collected by any of these methods, supporting global germplasm exchange and assisted reproductive technologies. Recent work has emphasised protocol refinement to optimise sperm motility, viability and integrity while minimising physiological perturbation. A growing focus on hormonal modulation, habituation strategies and low-voltage stimulation demonstrates the field’s commitment to balancing sample quality with animal welfare across livestock, companion and wildlife species.

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Semen Collection Techniques in Male Reproductive Physiology publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in semen collection techniques in male reproductive physiology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Artificial vagina (AV): A device that simulates the natural female reproductive tract to collect semen during male mounting, commonly used in trained domestic species.

Electroejaculation (EE): A method employing electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerves to induce ejaculation, often applied in untrained animals or wildlife, with adjustable voltage and current settings.

Epididymal sperm recovery (ESR): Retrieval of spermatozoa from the epididymis post-mortem or after castration, enabling gene banking from valuable or deceased males.

Cryopreservation: The process of freezing and storing spermatozoa at ultra-low temperatures using cryoprotectants, preserving cellular integrity and fertilising capacity for future use.

References

1. Alternative Opportunities to Collect Semen and Sperm Cells for Ex Situ In Vitro Gene Conservation in Sheep. Agriculture (2022).
2. Effect of Electroejaculation Protocols on Semen Quality and Concentrations of Testosterone, Cortisol, Malondialdehyde, and Creatine Kinase in Captive Bengal Tigers. Animals (2023).
3. Novel Low-Voltage Electro-Ejaculation Approach for Sperm Collection from Zoo Captive Lanyu Miniature Pigs (Sus barbatus sumatranus). Animals (2020).