Influence of Storage Duration of Ovulated Eggs Prior to Fertilisation on the Early Ontogenesis of Sterlet ( Acipenser ruthenus ) and Siberian Sturgeon ( Acipenser baeri )

Abstract

The influence of short-term storage (0, 2, 4, 6. 9 and 12 h) in coelomic fluid at 15 °C of ovulated eggs of mature females from sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baeri) was studied. The percentage of fertilization, embryonic survival, abnormally developing embryos, hatching and larvae with malformations at hatching was measured. The results showed that ovulated eggs from A. ruthenus retained their fertilizability during 2-4 hours after ovulation depending on the maternal origin (83.5-43.7%, P 0.05). The results showed that ovulated eggs of A. ruthenus and A. baeri stored in coelomic fluid at 15 °C lost their fertilizability and viability. and became over-ripe between 2-4 and 6 hours after ovulation. respectively.