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The minimum effective spermatozoa : egg ratio for artificial insemination and the effects of mercury on sperm motility and fertilization ability in Clarias gariepinus
Author(s) -
Rurangwa E.,
Roelants I.,
Huyskens G.,
Ebrahimi M.,
Kime D. E.,
Ollevier F.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1998.tb00989.x
Subject(s) - human fertilization , biology , sperm , hatching , catfish , insemination , sperm motility , clarias gariepinus , artificial insemination , artificial fertilization , andrology , zoology , fishery , anatomy , pregnancy , botany , genetics , fish <actinopterygii> , medicine
The optimal ratio of spermatozoa : egg (15 000 : 1) for artificial insemination of African catfish Clarias gariepinus gave fertilization and hatching rates of 80 and 67%, respectively. Below a sperm : ova of 3000 : 1 fertilization success decreased significantly. Excessive sperm (>15 000 : 1) partly inhibited fertilization success. Sperm motility was decreased significantly by 0·001 mg 1 −1 Hg 2+ as HgCl 2 , but its effect on fertilization was dependent on the sperm : ova ratio, since excess sperm masked the effect of the pollutant. The most sensitive sperm : ova ratio for monitoring pollutant effects on fertilization success was 1500 : 1, which corresponds to half the minimal amount that yields a high fertilization rate in artificial insemination. There was a good correlation between fertilization and hatching rates ( r =0·83; P<0·05). Although both fertilization and hatching rates provide equally good indicators of fertilization success, the more rapid fertilization rate test is recommended since it requires only 12 h.