Stallion semen quality depends on major histocompatibility complex matching to teaser mare

• Published in: Molecular ecology Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 1025 - 1035
• Main Authors: Jeannerat, E., Marti, E., Berney, C., Janett, F., Bollwein, H., Sieme, H., Burger, D., Wedekind, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Animals; Chromosomes; Cold storage; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA fragmentation; economics; Estrus; Experimental design; Exposure; Female; genetic similarity; Histocompatibility Testing; Horses; Horses - genetics; life history; Major histocompatibility complex; Major Histocompatibility Complex - genetics; Male; male reproductive strategy; mares; Matching; Mate selection; mating behavior; microsatellite repeats; Microsatellites; Models, Biological; Oxidative stress; Semen; Semen - metabolism; semen characteristics; semen quality; Social environment; Sperm; sperm competition; spermatozoa; stallions; Testosterone; variance; Vertebrates; Viability; semen characteristics; sperm competition; male reproductive strategy; oxidative stress; life history

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) has repeatedly been found to influence mate choice of vertebrates, with MHC‐dissimilar mates typically being preferred over MHC‐similar mates. We used horses (Equus caballus) to test whether MHC matching also affects male investment into ejaculates after sh...