Motility and energetic status of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) sperm after refrigerated storage

Abstract

Summary Sperm storage in the appropriate diluents brings positive results usually assessed at the level of percent of motile sperm and fertilization rate. Occasionally sperm motility parameters were taken into consideration. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dilution in artificial seminal plasma significantly affects energetic status and motility pattern of Atlantic salmon sperm. The sperm from 11 males was stored separately in two modes on ice (+2–+4°C), for 10 h until examined: one part of milt was stored in thin layer of 5–6 mm under air condition, while the other part was diluted at the ratio 1 : 50 in artificial seminal plasma in a sealed tube. Energetic parameters i.e.: ATP, ADP, AMP, GTP, GDP, GMP, IMP, NAD, NADP, adenosine, guanosine, inosine were determined by HPLC. Motility parameters were measured using CASA. Eight sperm motility parameters were analysed: MOT, VCL, VAP, VSL, LIN, STR, ALH and BCF. After storage the concentrations of ATP, TAN and AEC value of the diluted spermatozoa were significantly (P 0.05). Dilution of salmon milt during short-term storage in artificial seminal plasma is recommended for these species. The technique used in the present study resulted in a significantly better sustenance of the energetic status of spermatozoa and had beneficial effects on the motility parameters at activation such as sperm velocity, linearity and progressivity.