Milt Properties of Four Flatfish Species and Fine Structure of Their Cryopreserved Spermatozoa

Abstract

The physico-chemical properties of fresh milt of marbled sole, Limanda yokohamae, brown sole, Limanda herzensteini, starry flounder, Platichthys stellatus and olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus among flatfishes, and the fine structure of their cryopresserved spermatozoa were investigated. The highest concentration of sperm among these four species was <TEX>$3.60\pm1.35\times10^{10}/mL$</TEX> in marbled sole. Osmolality and pH of seminal plasma in four flatfish species were approximately 330 mOsm/kg and 7.6-8.1, respectively. Seminal plasma compositions showed interspecific differences. The sperm heads of marbled sole, brown sole and starry flounder were ellipsoidal and that of olive flounder was round. The numbers of mitochondria of these four species were eight in marbled sole, seven in brown sole and starry flounder, and six in olive flounder. Cross-sectional view of flagellum showed typical 9+ 2 structure in all species. Most of sperms cryopreserved with a proper method had no visible ultrastructural changes after freeze-thawing, compared with the fresh sperm, but in a few cases, swelling of their heads and midpiece regions were observed.