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Sperm quality in male Barbus barbus L. fed different diets during the spawning season

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry volume 35, pages 683–693 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Sperm quality of Barbus barbus L. was compared among the three following dietary regimes: Group A, fed 100% commercial diet (Karpico™ containing 33% crude protein and 6% fat), Group B, fed 78% commercial diet and 22% frozen chironomid (Chironomus plumosus) larvae, and Group C, fed 56% commercial diet and 44% frozen chironomid larvae. Concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in Group A, B, and C were 39.1, 42.0, and 44.6, respectively, as a percentage of total fatty acids. Sperm morphology, volume, concentration and motility, total number of spermatozoa, and osmolality of the seminal plasma were compared during the spawning season. Dietary regime did not influence sperm volume, concentration, or total number of spermatozoa, osmolality of seminal plasma, or the percentage of motile sperm, but significantly affected sperm morphology (except for anterior and posterior parts of the midpiece) and sperm velocity (P < 0.05). Groups B and C showed similar sperm characteristics during the spawning season compared to Group A. Almost all parameters changed either among or within groups during the spawning season, suggesting differences in terms of the optimal time for sperm collection. The best time for sperm collection was March for Group A, but April for Groups B and C, when the osmolality of the seminal plasma measured 289 mOsmol kg−1 and sperm motility was maximal. Spermatogenesis, hydration, and cell decomposition were confirmed as the three major parameters controlling sperm characteristics during the spawning season. The possible correlation between sperm morphology and motility requires further study.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. J. Pickova (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden) and Prof. Jacky Cosson (CNRS) for their valuable comments and discussion during preparation of this manuscript. This work has been supported by MSM No. 6007665809 and by National Agency for Agricultural Research Nos. QH71305 and QH 91310. The authors wish to thank the staff of the fish culture station of RIFCH, USB for maintaining the broodfish for this research, Zdenka Kopicova (Czech Republic, Prague) and Frantisek Vacha (Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice) for analysis of fatty acids and amino acids in the different diets, respectively.

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  1. Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic

    Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi, Martin Pšenička, Tomáš Policar, Marek Rodina, Jitka Hamáčková, Pavel Kozák & Otomar Linhart

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  1. Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi
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  2. Martin Pšenička
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Correspondence to Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi.

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Alavi, S.M.H., Pšenička, M., Policar, T. et al. Sperm quality in male Barbus barbus L. fed different diets during the spawning season. Fish Physiol Biochem 35, 683–693 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-009-9325-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-009-9325-7

Keywords

  • Osmolality
  • Sperm motility
  • Spermatozoa velocity
  • Spermatozoa concentration
  • Sperm volume
  • Sperm morphology
  • Total number of spermatozoa

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