Artificial vagina conformation and composition for semen collection

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Animal Husbandry

Background:

• Artificial vaginas (AVs) are essential tools for semen collection in managed breeding programs for domestic and exotic species.
• The effectiveness of AVs is limited by inconsistent semen quality, influenced by variations in device design and species-specific anatomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze the evolution of artificial vagina (AV) features, including materials, shapes, and elasticity, across non-human vertebrate taxa.
• To assess changes in AV composition over time and identify opportunities for design innovation.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science for articles published between 1914 and 2024, using the term 'AV'.
• 778 articles were analyzed, categorizing AVs based on material, shape, elasticity, and design augmentations.
• Data extraction focused on AV composition and features used across different vertebrate species.

Main Results:

• Over the last century, AV designs have remained largely consistent, predominantly featuring tube-shaped devices made of rubber/latex or plastic with a rigid outer shell and semi-elastic inner liner.
• Perissodactyls and artiodactyls have been the most studied groups for AV semen collection.
• There is a notable lack of species-specific AV compositions, with most designs based on those originally developed for bulls and stallions.

Conclusions:

• Artificial vagina (AV) materials, shapes, and elasticity have not undergone substantial changes over time or across species.
• Current AV designs offer limited adaptation to the diverse genital variations found in non-human vertebrates.
• Future research should focus on developing species-specific AV designs that incorporate anatomical features to enhance semen collection efficiency and quality, particularly for exotic species.