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Development of an Inexpensive Artificial Vagina for Semen Collection from Rabbits

DAVID R. NELSON

ANTHONY J. THOMAS, JR

From the ^* Division of Urological Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; and the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology and the Glickman Urological Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Correspondence to: Cathy K. Naughton MD, Division of Urologic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Center, 4444 Forest Park Ave, Suite 3100, St Louis, MO 63108 (e-mail: naughtonc{at}msnotes.wustl.edu).

The rabbit is well suited for infertility research because of the animal's size, relatively low cost, and accessibility of the genitalia. There are several studies reporting sperm count and motility in rabbits; however, no easily reproducible or inexpensive device for semen collection has been reported. Herein, we report the construction of an inexpensive, effective artificial vagina assembled from easily obtainable products that may be used to collect rabbit ejaculates. This device was used to perform 243 ejaculation trials on 17 rabbits. Eighty-six percent (209/243) of the trials resulted in rabbit mounts. Overall, 91% (191/209) of mounts resulted in successful semen collection. After 60 mounts, a 98% successful ejaculate collection rate was achieved. The cost of the reusable device is $2.64, plus silicone condoms at $7.50 each. This practical artificial vagina for semen collection is an inexpensive and effective means of obtaining semen from rabbits for andrologic study.

     Key words: Semen collection, ejaculate, device

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