Morphofunctional analysis of testes and sperm in the assessment of male reproductive success in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)

The morphofunctional analysis of testes and sperms in bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus, Schreber, 1780) from a natural population is carried out to assess the reproductive potential of animals. It is shown that the reproductive success of males depends on the density of the population. Under physiological stress, such as a "peak" of the population size, the animals, against a background of accelerated aging, have activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which contributes to oppression of the spermatogenesis process. The absolute weight of the testes is not always the determining factor in assessing the fertility of the animal. The informative indicators of the reproductive success of males and the population as a whole include the level of destructive changes in the endocrine and germinal regions of morphological defects of the testis and sperm.