Open AccessEffects of Potassium and Osmolality on Spermatozoan Motility of Salmonid Fishes
Author(s) -
Mitsuharu Morisawa,
Keiji Suzuki,
Sachiko Morisawa
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of experimental biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.367
H-Index - 185
eISSN - 1477-9145
pISSN - 0022-0949
DOI - 10.1242/jeb.107.1.105
Subject(s) - potassium , sodium , sperm , motility , biology , rainbow trout , osmotic concentration , sperm motility , semen , salmonidae , osmoregulation , mannitol , plasma osmolality , trout , chemistry , anatomy , biochemistry , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , botany , salinity , microbiology and biotechnology , organic chemistry
In salmonid fishes, rainbow trout and masu salmon, and the plecoglossid fish, ayu, seminal plasma had an osmolality around 300 mosmol kg-1 isotonic to the blood plasma, and contained a higher concentration of potassium than the blood plasma. Spermatozoa of salmonid fishes were motile when semen was diluted 1:100 with solutions of sodium chloride or mannitol, over the osmotic range of 0–300 mosmol kg-1. They were immotile in sodium chloride solution containing several mM potassium. This indicates that osmolality is not an essential determinant of sperm motility in the Salmonidae, and that sperm motility in these species is suppressed by the seminal potassium in the sperm duct, and initiated by a decrease in potassium concentration surrounding spawned spermatozoa when they are released into fresh water.
Accelerating Research
Robert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom
Address
John Eccles HouseRobert Robinson Avenue,
Oxford Science Park, Oxford
OX4 4GP, United Kingdom