| dc.description.abstract | Muntjaks (Muntiacus muntjak muntjak) are belonging to Cervidae which
distributed in Java Island and Southern part of Sumatera. Muntjaks have been
protected by Indonesian Government since 1999. In order to support breeding
program of the species and to avoid from extinction, several activities in this
study were conducted. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate
the reproductive capacity of male muntjaks in captivity. Anatomical procedure
and histological preparation of reproductive organ (testis, ductus epididymidis,
accessory sex glands, and penis) from an adult male muntjak (♂#1) in hard antler
period was carried out to collect data of their morphology and histology structure.
Immunoreactive testosterone (iT) level of fecal samples was measured by the
enzymeimmunoassay method using testosterone assay (Möstl) from two adult
male muntjaks with individual code as ♂#2 and ♂#3. Furthermore, core needle
biopsy and electroejaculation methods were applied for obtained testicular
tissues and semen for study spermatogenesis. The entire samples were
collected in hard antler (RK), casting (C), and velvet antler (RV) periods with
different sampling frequency. The result showed that in general, the anatomy of
reproductive organ in male muntjak was somewhat similar with other small
ruminant included Cervids (ram and goat, rusa deer, pampas deer, and reeves
muntjak). As dominant male, ♂#2 had sturdier and bigger hard antlers (RK1 and
RK2) compare to ♂#3. The duration of antler cycle of ♂#2 was also longer (459
days) than ♂#3 (381 days) in the first antler cycle. Duration of second antler cycle
of ♂#3 was longer (20.65%) than in previous cycle (485 days) Based on the
hormonal data, iT level of ♂#2 was different among RK, C, and RV periods where
iT level during RK 1 period was higher than C (p = 0.003) and RV (p = 0.02). In
addition, iT level during RK 2 was also significantly higher than those C
(p = 0.009) and RV (p = 0.06). In the first antler cycle, the pattern of T secretion
in ♂#3 was slightly different if compared to the ♂#2. ♂#3 showed iT level was
significantly lower in RK1 than RK2 (p = 0.0003), RK3 (p= 0.0034), C1 (p = 0.05),
and C2 (p = 0.0001). However, the pattern of testosterone secretion was
changed when ♂#3 in RK2 at the second of antler cycle coincided with increase
of ♂#3’s age and death of ♂#2. Interestingly, iT level still detected during C and
RV periods in both of muntjaks and showed a positive correlation with
spermatogenesis which was proven by presence of spermatozoa in semen with
significant concentration during those periods. The highest sperm concentration,
however, was found in RK, and slightly decreased in C and RV. These findings
provide that the specific pattern of testosterone metabolite profile that exhibited
by ♂#2 and ♂#3 had closed correlation with their age, body size, antler size, and
antler cycles length. In conclusion, testosterone that synthesized during an antler
cycle plays a central role in continuing reproductive activities in male muntjaks.
Therefore, muntjaks could provide reproductive function throughout the year of
reproductive aseasonality which is similar to the reeves and formosan muntjaks. | id |
