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Updated: May 15, 2026

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Published on: October 13, 2018

Sperm count and sperm motility decrease in old rats.

Rosa Angélica Lucio¹, José L Tlachi-López, Jose R Eguibar

¹Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Carretera Tlaxcala-Puebla km 1.5 s/n, Loma Xicoténcatl, C.P. 90062, Tlaxcala, Tlax., México. lucioral@yahoo.com.mx

Physiology & Behavior

|January 9, 2013

Summary

Male rat sexual behavior and ejaculate quality decline with age. Older rats showed increased ejaculation latency and significantly reduced sperm motility, impacting fertility potential.

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Area of Science:

Reproductive Biology
Aging Research
Animal Science

Background:

Sexual behavior in male rats decreases with age.
Factors influencing this decline are not fully understood.
Age-related changes in ejaculate quality and their link to sexual behavior are unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate age-dependent changes in rat ejaculate quality.
To determine the relationship between sexual behavior and ejaculate parameters in aging male rats.

Main Methods:

Wistar rats were tested for sexual behavior at 3, 12, and 24 months of age.
Semen and seminal plug characteristics were analyzed post-ejaculation.
Males had opportunities to copulate every 3-4 weeks between behavioral tests.

Main Results:

Ejaculation latency increased only in 24-month-old rats.
Sperm immobility and reduced motility were observed in 12- and 24-month-old rats.
No correlation was found between sexual behavior parameters and ejaculate characteristics.

Conclusions:

Aging significantly diminishes ejaculate quality in male rats due to reduced sperm count and motility.
Declined ejaculate quality in older males may negatively impact fertility.
Seminal plug size did not correlate with intrauterine sperm count.