Spermatozoa motility and variation in the seminal plasma proteome of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) during the reproductive season

This study evaluated physiological and functional sperm parameters and the seminal plasma proteome of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) over the course of their reproductive season. Spermatozoa velocity (169.56 ± 6.53 to 158.5 ± 7.4 µm sec^?1), percent motility (95.89 ± 4.28% to 89.55 ± 4.5%), and osmolality of seminal plasma (290 ± 5 to 297 ± 12 mOsmol kg^?1) remained stable throughout the reproductive season. Milt volume and protein concentration of seminal plasma gradually increased and reached the highest values late in the reproductive period. Spermatozoa concentration peaked in the mid‐reproductive season (66.90 ± 13 × 10⁹ spermatozoa ml^?1) and decreased towards the end (54 ± 10 × 10⁹ spermatozoa ml^?1). A proteomic analysis of seminal plasma using two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed 10 protein spots significantly altered over the course of the reproductive season. Subsequent protein characterization suggested that time in the reproductive season predominantly affected proteins involved in membrane trafficking, organization, cell motility, and oxido‐reductase activity. This study provides new data on physiological properties of sperm and protein patterns of seminal plasma over the course of the reproductive season that should be considered in the development of methods for artificial reproduction of perch. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 879–887, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.