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Retention of sperm motility in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L.: the effects of time from activation, thermal shock and adenosine triphosphate levels
Author(s) -
GEFFEN A. J.,
FRAYER O.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.1993.tb00542.x
Subject(s) - turbot , motility , sperm , biology , sperm motility , scophthalmus , andrology , microbiology and biotechnology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , genetics , medicine
Four parameters were examined in order to define sperm quality in turbot Scophthalmus maximus L., sperm: (1) sperm motility, measured by direct counts of the number of active spermatozoa, expressed as % of total spermatozoa; (2) retention of motility after activation, measured by direct counts, 0–60min after activation, expressed as a % of the initial level of activity; (3) resistance to thermal stress, measured as change in retention of motility, and (4) adenosine phosphate (ATP) concentration, determined for samples of non‐activated sperm. The proportion of motile spermatozoa at activation ranged from 34·8% to 97·6% (mean 76·3%) for the individual males tested. Turbot sperm retained on average 52% (range 27–90%) of its initial activity one hour after activation. Sperm samples which were stressed by cooling to –27°C retained only 8·6% (range 0–25%) of initial activity, compared to control samples which retained 49% (range 38–63%) of initial activity. The retention of motility after activation was not significantly related to the initial motility or the levels of ATP. Concentrations of ATP in turbot sperm (mean 0·46mg ATP/10 6 spermatozoa, equivalent to 9·2nmol ATP/10 8 spermatozoa) were comparable to those measured in mammals.