Premium
Sperm morphology and its influence on swimming speed in Atlantic cod
Author(s) -
Tuset V. M.,
Trippel E. A.,
De Monserrat J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2008.01125.x
Subject(s) - biology , sperm , gadus , anatomy , atlantic cod , andrology , morphology (biology) , zoology , fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , genetics , medicine
Summary A protocol for staining fish spermatozoa using Hemacolor‐stain was developed for light microscopy and successfully applied to Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ). Sperm head morphology was characterized by size (length, width, area and perimeter) and shape (ellipticity, rugosity, elongation and regularity) (n = 6500 spermatozoa), and tail length (n = 260 spermatozoa) of 12 individual cod. Two spermatozoa heads sperm were clearly identified: round and elongated, being this last one more abundant (86.3%). No evidence was detected in tail length for both head types. Tails were 96.4% length of sperm and no difference in tail length was detected between head types. A positive correlation existed between head and tail length, with variability existing among males. Sperm swimming speeds varied among males with a maximum curvilinear velocity between 151.5 and 201.5 μ m s −1 . Mean swimming speed declined by 8.2% from 30 to 70 s post‐activation. Spermatocrit was negatively correlated with curvilinear velocity at 30 s post‐activation. Males with short sperm heads maintained their swimming velocity for longer periods that those with long heads. Fulton’s condition factor was negatively correlated with straightness of path.