Epididymal spermatozoa from domestic cats in assisted reproduction biotechniques: Perspectives for wild felid applications

The domestic cat is an example of a species that thrives despite numerous threats faced by the Felidae family. This resilience has sparked significant scientific interest in the application of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) developed for domestic cats in order to preserve the genetic diversity of wild felines. With the decline in genetic diversity and population numbers of wild cats, effective reproductive interventions are crucial. The recovery of spermatozoa from the epididymis is important for the application of ARTs because of their unique characteristics, including their ability to maintain viability for long periods under refrigeration, their potential for cryopreservation, and their usefulness in generating viable embryos through ARTs. Techniques such as compression, perforation, and cutting followed by floating are used to recover these spermatozoa, which facilitates their use in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination, while gamete cryopreservation has already been successfully implemented in domestic cats, offering a possible solution to ensure the future of wild cats. This review focuses on the unique characteristics of sperm recovered from the epididymal tail of cats, and aims to capitalize on the knowledge gained from studies on domestic cats to ensure the survival of endangered felines.