本試驗之目的乃在探討水鹿血液中雄性素含量、鹿角週期與精液性狀之季節性變化，並建立水鹿精液冷凍保存之方法。選擇健康、性成熟牡台灣水鹿5頭，暴露於自然光照下，每隔兩週以人力方式保定，自頸靜脈採集血液樣本，並以電刺激採精器採集精液樣本。血清以放射性免疫鑑定法測定其雄性素含量。所得精液立即進行各項檢查，並記錄之。品質良好之精液，則進行冷凍精液之製作。結果顯示，牡台灣水鹿血清中雄性素含量與精液品質，於8~9月間達到高峰，而在2~4月間達到最低水平。牡台灣水鹿於2~3月間解角，5~6月間完成蛻茸，其茸角期長度為101±6（平均±SEM）日，硬角期長度為242±5日。在冷凍精液製作中，冷凍、解凍後之精子存活率，在Tris-蛋黃、Tris-檸檬酸-蛋黃與檸檬酸鈉-蛋黃等三種稀釋液間並無顯著差異；抗凍劑則以甘油之效果較Dimethyl Sulfoxide（DMSO）者為佳；加入甘油後之平衡時間以12小時為最佳；甘油濃度以7％為最佳。本研究之資料顯示，牡台灣水鹿血清中雄性素含量與精液性狀之季節性變化具有一致性。在血清中雄性素含量下降時解角，上升時蛻茸。牡台灣水鹿之精液冷凍保存，以7％甘油為抗凍劑，平衡12小時之效果為 最佳。 This experiment was conducted to understand the seasonal changes in serum testosterone levels, antler cycles and semen quality and to develop a suitable method for semen cryopreservation in Formosan sambar stags. Five healthy and sex matured Formosan sambar stags exposed to natural photoperiod were restrained physically biweekly. Their blood samples were collected from jugular vein and semen samples were collected by electroejaculation biweekly. Serum testosterone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and semen qualities were evaluated and recorded. Semen samples with high quality were prepared to frozen semen, and the damage degrees of sperm were evaluated at each stage. The dates of cast and velvet shedding of antlers were recorded. Results showed that serum testosterone levels and semen quality in Formosan sambar stags peaked in August to September and declined to the nadir in February to April. Formosan sambar stags cast in February to March and cleaned velvet in May to June, with 101?6 days (mean?SEM) of velvet phase and 242?5 days of bony phase. Sperm survival rates of post-thaw semen were not different among Tris-egg yolk, Tris-citric acid-egg yolk and sodium citrate-egg yolk extenders. Glycerol was a better cryoprotectant than dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The optimal equilibration period was 12 hr and the optimal concentration of glycerol was 7%. It is concluded that the seasonal change in serum testosterone levels is paralleled with the fluctuation of semen quality in Formosan sambar stags. Formosan sambar stags cast their antlers when serum testosterone level is declining, and clean their antlers when serum testosterone level is rising. Seven percent of glycerol as cryoprotectant and 12 hr equilibration period are optimal variables for semen cryopreservation in sambar stags.
