Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T02:17:26.955Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Changes of sperm morphology, volume, density and motility and seminal plasma composition in Barbus barbus(Teleostei: Cyprinidae) during the reproductive season

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2008

Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi
Affiliation:
University of South Bohemia, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic
Martin Psenicka
Affiliation:
University of South Bohemia, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic
Marek Rodina
Affiliation:
University of South Bohemia, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic
Tomas Policar
Affiliation:
University of South Bohemia, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic
Otomar Linhart
Affiliation:
University of South Bohemia, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, 389 25 Vodnany, Czech Republic
Get access

Abstract

Eighteen spermiating males were randomly selected from a hatchery-reared stock and electronically tagged to record changes in their sperm quality parameters (spermatozoa morphology, ultrastructure and motility, ionic composition and osmolality of the seminal plasma, and sperm volume and density) during the spawning season. Stripping was performed at the beginning of March, April and May. The Barbus barbus spermatozoon has a head without acrosome, a midpiece with 4–6 mitochondria and proximal and distal centrioles, and a flagellum with the typical 9+2 pairs of microtubules. Apart from posterior width of the midpiece, morphological and ultrastructural parameters changed significantly during the reproductive season; generally by decreasing toward the end of reproductive season. Sperm volume also decreased from 0.42 in March to 0.15 ml in May, and density from 18.81 in March to 12.45 × 109 spz ml−1 in May. Osmolality (mOsmol kg−1) was 268 ± 4, 276 ± 2 and 268 ± 2 in March, April and May respectively. Chloride, sodium, calcium and potassium ion concentrations (mM) did not show significant differences between March and April (Cl: 125.3 vs. 120.5, Na+: 75.7 vs. 69.7, Ca2+: 0.4 vs. 0.3 and K+: 84.7 vs. 84.0). The percentage of motile spermatozoa at 15 s post activation did not show a significant difference between dates, but the highest spermatozoa velocity at 15 s post activation was observed in April (91.4 ± 3.2 µm s−1) and then decreased significantly towards the end of the reproductive season (80.6 µm s−1 in May). However, lowest spermatozoa velocity was measured in March (70.4 ± 1.9 µm s−1). This study supports the hypothesis that longer spermatozoa swim faster. Within one stripping, velocity and percentage motility decreased significantly with time post activation. In conclusion, changes observed in B. barbus sperm parameters during the reproductive season, suggest there is association between such changes and spermatozoa aging processes.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, IFREMER, IRD, 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alavi, S.M.H., Cosson, J., 2006, Sperm motility in fishes: (II) Effects of ions and osmolality. Cell Biol. Int. 30, 114. CrossRef
Alavi, S.M.H., Cosson, J., Kazemi, R., 2006, Semen characteristics in Acipenser persicus in relation to sequential stripping. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 22 (Suppl. 1), 400405. CrossRef
Alavi S.M.H., Cosson J.J., Coward K., Rafiee G., 2008a, Fish Spermatology. Alpha Science Ltd, Oxford, UK.
Alavi S.M.H., Linhart O., Coward K., Rodina M., 2008b, Fish spermatology: implication for aquaculture management. In: Alavi S.M.H., Cosson J.J., Coward K., Rafiee G. (Eds.) Fish Spermatology. Alpha Science Ltd, Oxford, UK. pp. 397–460.
Babiak, I., Ottesen, O., Rudolfsen, G., Johnsen, S., 2006, Quantitative characteristics of Atlantic halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus L., semen throughout the reproductive season. Theriogenology 65, 15871604. CrossRef
Belova, N.V., 1981, The ecological and physiological peculiarities of sperm in pond cyprinids. Communication I. Production and ecological and physiological peculiarities of the sperm of cyprinids. J. Ichthyol. 21, 90102.
Billard, R., Cosson, J., Crim, L.W., 1993, Motility of fresh and aged halibut sperm. Aquat. Living Resour. 6, 6775. CrossRef
Billard, R., Cosson, J., Perchec, G., Linhart, O., 1995, Biology of sperm and artificial reproduction in carp. Aquaculture 124, 95112. CrossRef
Buyukhatipoglu, S., Holtz, W., 1984, Sperm output in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Effect of age, timing, and frequency of stripping and presence of females. Aquaculture 37, 6371. CrossRef
Caille, N., Rodina, M., Kocour, M., Gela, D., Flajshans, M., Linhart, O., 2006, Quantity, motility and fertility of tench Tinca tinca (L.) sperm in relation to LHRH analogue and carp pituitary treatments. Aquac. Int. 14, 7587. CrossRef
Ciereszko A., 2008, Chemical composition of seminal plasma and its physiological relationship with sperm motility, fertilizing capacity and cryopreservation success in fish. In: Alavi S.M.H., Cosson J.J., Coward K., Rafiee G. (Eds.), Fish Spermatology. Alpha Science Ltd, Oxford, UK. pp. 215–240.
Ciereszko A., Glogowski J., Dabrowski K., 2000, Biochemical characteristics of seminal plasma and spermatozoa of freshwater fishes. In: Tiersch T.R., Mazik P.M. (Eds.). Cryopreservation of Aquatic Species. World Aquaculture Society, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, pp. 20–48.
Clemens, H.P., Grant, F.B., 1965, The seminal thinning response of carp, Cyprinus carpio, and rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri after injections of pituitary extracts. Copeia 2, 174177. CrossRef
Dreanno, C., Cosson, J., Suquet, M., Dorange, G., Fauvel, C., Cibert, C., Billard, R., 1999, Effects of osmolality, morphology and intracellular nucleotid content during the movement of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) spermatozoa. J. Reprod. Fertil. 116, 113125. CrossRef
Fiala, J., Spurny, P., 2001, Intensive rearing of the common barbel (Barbus barbus L.) larvae using dry starter feeds and natural diet under controlled conditions. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 7, 320326.
Gage, M.J.G., MacFarlane, C.P., Yeates, S., Ward, R.G., Seare, J.B., Parker, G.A., 2004, Spermatozoal traits and sperm competition in Atlantic salmon: Relative sperm velocity is the primary determinant of fertilization success. Curr. Biol. 14, 4447.
Kara, M.H., Labed, S., 1994, Évolution des caractéristiques du sperme de Sparus aurata et Dicentrarchus labrax au cours d'une saison de reproduction. Cah. Biol. Mar. 35, 281288.
Koldras, M., Loir, M., Maisse, G., Le Gac, F., 1996, Study of the composition of seminal fluid and of sperm motility along the genital tract, during a spawning season in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Aquat. Living Resour. 9, 337345. CrossRef
Linhart, O., Mims, S.D., Gomelsky, B., Hiott, A.E., Shelton, W.L., Cosson, J., Rodina, M., Gela, D., 2000, Spermiation of paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) stimulated with injection of LHRH analogue and carp pituitary extract. Aquat. Living Resour. 13, 16.
Linhart O., Rodina M., Gela D., Kocour M., 2004, Optimalization of artificial propagation in European catfish, Silurus glanis L. Aquaculture, 235, 619–632.
Lusk, S., 1996, Development and status of populations of Barbus barbus in the waters of the Czech Republic. Folia Zool. 45 (Suppl. 1), 3946.
Lusk, S., Luskova, V., Halacka, K., Slechta, V., Slechtova, V., 1998, Trends and production of a fish communities of the barbel zone. Folia Zool. 47 (Suppl. 1), 6772.
Munikittrick, K.R, Moccia, R.D., 1987, Seasonal changes in the quality of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) semen: effect of a delay in stripping on spermatocrit, motility, volume and seminal plasma constitutions. Aquaculture 64, 14756. CrossRef
Mylonas, C.C., Gissis, A, Magnus, Y., Zohar, Y., 1997, Hormonal changes in male white bass (Morone chrysops) and evaluation of milt quality after treatment with a sustained-release GnRHa-delivery system. Aquaculture 153, 301313. CrossRef
Piironen, J., 1985, Variation in the properties of milt from the Finnish landlocked salmon (Salmo salar m. sebago Girard) during a spawning season. Aquaculture 48, 337350. CrossRef
Philippart J.C., Mélard C., Poncin P., 1989, Intensive culture of the common barbel, Barbus barbus (L.) for restocking. In: De Pauw N., Jaspers E., Ackefors H., Wilkins N. (Eds.), Aquaculture – a biotechnology in progress. Proc. Int. Conf. Aquaculture Europe'87, 2-5 June 1987, Bredene, Belgium. Eur. Aquac. Soc., pp. 483–491.
Policar, T., Kozak, P., Hamackova, J, Lepicova, A., Musil, J., Kouril, J., 2007, Effects of short-time Artemia spp. feeding in larvae and different rearing environments in juveniles of common barbel (Barbus barbus) on their growth and survival under intensive controlled conditions. Aquat. Living Resour. 20, 175183. CrossRef
Poncin, P., 1989, Effects of different photoperiods on the reproduction of the barbel, Barbus barbus (L.) reared at constant temperature. J. Fish Biol. 35, 395400. CrossRef
Poncin, P., Melard, C., Philippart, J., 1987, Use of temperature and photoperiod in the control of the reproduction of 3 European cyprinids: Barbus barbus (L.) Leuciscus cephalus (L.) and Tinca tinca (L.), reared in captivity. Bull. Fr. Pêche Piscic. 304, 112. CrossRef
Psenicka, M., Rodina, M., Nebesarova, J., Linhart, O., 2006, Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of tench Tinca tinca observation with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Theriogenology 64, 13551363. CrossRef
Rideout, R.M., Trippel, E.A, Litvak, M.K., 2004, Relationship between sperm density, spermatocrit, sperm motility and spawning date in wild and cultured haddock. J. Fish Biol. 65, 319332. CrossRef
Rurangwa, E., Kime, D.E., Ollevier, F., Nash, J.P., 2004, Measurement of sperm motility and factors affecting sperm quality in cultured fish. Aquaculture 234, 128. CrossRef
Shangguan, B., Crim, L.W., 1999, Seasonal variation in sperm production and sperm quality in male winter founder, Pleuronectes americanus: the effects of hypophysectomy, pituitary replacement therapy, and GnRH-a treatment. Mar. Biol. 134, 1927. CrossRef
Suquet, M., Dreanno, C., Dorange, G., Normant, Y., Quemener, L., Gaignon, J.L., Billard, R., 1998, The ageing phenomenon of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, spermatozoa: effects on morphology, motility and concentration, intracellular ATP content, fertilization and storage capacities. J. Fish Biol. 32, 3141. CrossRef
Suquet M., Rouxel C., Cosson J., Severe A., Quemener L., Fauvel C., 2005, Changes in atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) sperm quality with time. In: Hendry C.I., Van Stappen, G., Wille M., Sorgeloss P. (Eds.), Larvi 2005, Eur. Aquac. Soc. Spec. Publ., pp. 503–505.
Vermeirssen, E.L.M., Mazorra de Quero, C., Shields, R., Norberg, B., Kime, D.E., Scott, A.P., 2004, Fertility and motility of sperm from Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in relation to dose and timing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist implant. Aquaculture 230, 547567. CrossRef
Vladic, T.V., Afzelius, B.A., Bronnikov, G.E., 2002, Sperm quality as reflected through morphology in salmon alternative life histories. Biol. Reprod. 66, 98105. CrossRef
Zuromska, H., 1981, Effect of different thermal regimes on reproductive cycles of tench (Tinca tinca). Part VI. Estimation of milt quality. Pol. Arch. Hydrobiol. 28, 229241.