Espículas peneanas del cobayo (Cavia porcellus), influencia sobre el comportamiento sexual, fertilidad y calidad espermática

This research took place in canton Cuenca, province of Azuay, Ecuador, located on UTM 717 386 x 967 5751, 2 714 meters above sea level, with a mean temperature of 14 °C . This study determined the influence of penis spic-ules on sexual behavior, fertility and sperm quality parameters in cavy (Cavia porcellus), raised on the Ecuadorian highlands. A number of 5 whole males (with penis spicules) were included in the study. Also, included were 5 males with their spicules removed, and 40 multiparous females, conformation type A, pelage type 1. The pregnancy per-centage of females that copulated with extirpated males decreased 65 % in relation to the control group (P < 0.05). However, the sexual behavior pattern and sperm quality of the two groups in the study were similar (P > 0.05). Therefore, the study concluded that extirpation of the penis spicule has effects on fertility, but not on sexual behavior and sperm quality.