Reduced heterozygosity impairs sperm quality in endangered mammals.

ABSTRACT: Inbreeding causes increases in homozygosity and is commonly associated with reductions in fertility and embryogenesis. Although the mechanisms underlying such effects are unknown, recent work has suggested that inbred males may suffer impaired ejaculate quality, thus providing a functional explanation for reductions in reproductive function in inbred populations. However, the relationship between inbreeding and sperm quality remains controversial, particularly in wild populations where the level of inbreeding is typically estimated using neutral molecular markers. Such markers are thought to reflect genome-wide levels of heterozygosity only under restricted conditions, and rarely in outbred populations. Here we employ a comparative approach that takes account of these criticisms and evalua

SUBMITTER: Fitzpatrick JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2679910 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature