Biochemical factors of common carpCyprinus carpioL. 1758, seminal plasma and its relationship with sperm motility parameters

Abstract

Summary Compared were the volume and quality of carp Cyprinus carpio L. obtained from semen of males not subjected to hormonal stimulation (N = 10) but injected with 0.9% NaCl in the amount of 1 ml kg−1 b.w., as well as those stimulated using Ovopel (N = 10) in the amount of 1 granule kg−1 b.w. Semen was collected from the males 24 h after injection of hormonal preparation, to determine the pH, total volume (TVS) and volume recalculated per kg of body mass, concentration and total sperm production (TSP). Differences in sperm motility parameters between fish groups were determined by a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. Sperm motility was activated using 10 mm Tris buffer, containing 100 mm NaCl (pH 9.0, osmolality 200 mOsm kg−1). The pH, osmolality, total protein concentration and activity of acidic phosphatase (AcP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), s-N-acetylglucosaminidase and arylsulfatase (AS) were determined in the seminal plasma of both test groups. The stimulation of male carp using Ovopel did not significantly affect CASA parameters, but did lead to an over ten-fold increase in the values of TVS and VOS and nearly six times higher values of TSP as compared to the Control group. A significant increase in pH following stimulation with Ovopel indicates that cyclic AMP increased, thanks to which sperm acquire a capacity to move during their passage through the sperm ducts. An increase in the values of CASA parameters is a likely reflection of these changes.