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Sperm motility in three coral reef fish species

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Abstract

A method of computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) is used to determine the parameters of sperm motility in three fish species from the coral reefs of the Nha Trang Bay, South China Sea, Vietnam: Zebrasoma scopas (Acanthuridae), Abudefduf sexfasciatus, and Dascyllus trimaculatus (Pomacentridae). The representatives of the families are characterized by different reproductive tactics and possess pelagic and demersal eggs, respectively. The main morphological parameters of spermatozoa have been measured. The average curvilinear velocity of spermatozoa movement along the real trajectory (VCL) after 1 min of sperm activation ranges from 15.3 to 74.5 μm/s in Z. scopas, it is comparatively low (12.7–21.6 μm/s) in A. sexfasciatus, and high (58.4–92.2 μm/s) in D. trimaculatus. The duration of progressive movements in more than 50% of spermatozoa at 25°C is 3–20, 5–11, and 6–9 min after sperm activation, respectively. Following storage of the sperm of three species at 4.5°C for 7, 20, and 28 h, respectively, spermatozoa retain the ability of progressive movements. The results are discussed based on the available information on the activity of sperm in fish.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Vorob’evy gory, Moscow, 119899, Russia

    D. A. Pavlov & N. G. Emel’yanova

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  1. D. A. Pavlov
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  2. N. G. Emel’yanova
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Original Russian Text © D.A. Pavlov, N.G. Emel’yanova, 2006, published in Voprosy Ikhtiologii, 2006, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp. 541–552.

The article was translated by the author.

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Pavlov, D.A., Emel’yanova, N.G. Sperm motility in three coral reef fish species. J. Ichthyol. 46, 465–475 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0032945206060087

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