Induction of maturation and spermiation in the male European eel: assessment of sperm quality throughout treatment |
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Authors: | L. Pé rez,J. F. Aturiano,,A. Tomá s,S. Zegrari,R. Barrera,,F. J. Espinó s,J. C. Navarro, M. Jover |
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Affiliation: | *Laboratorio de Acuicultura, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera, 14, 46071 Valencia, Spain;Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales y de la Salud, Universidad Cardenal Herrera CEU, Av. Seminario, s/n 46113 Moncada (Valencia), Spain;Valenciana de Acuicultura, S.A. Playa de Puzol, Puzol, Valencia, Spain;Instituto de Acuicultura de Torre de la Sal, (CSIC), Ribera de Cabanes, 12595, Castellón, Spain |
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Abstract: | Weekly injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG; 1·5 IU g−1 W ) induced spermiation in 87–100% farmed male European eels Anguilla anguilla over a 10-week period, producing 3 ml (100 g)−1 milt volume, at 1˙4×109 spermatozoa ml−1 sperm mobility peaked in ninth week of treatment with 97% of males with motile sperm. Gonadotropin-treated males showed earlier but similar morphological changes to control males. Whereas higher sperm density was obtained 6 h after hCG administration, higher percentage of motile cells and longer sperm mobility were observed 24 h after the treatment indicating that this is the optimum time to obtain good sperm after the hormonal induction. Several monounsaturated fatty acids in sperm increased significantly from week 5 to 9 of treatment (when highest volume, density and mobility of milt were recorded), whereas eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly reduced. Fatty acid levels returned to initial values after 13 weeks of treatment. These results are in agreement with the reduction of n-3 PUFAs recently observed in the ovary of female Japanese eel during artificial maturation, and an attempt is made to suggest a physiological explanation of its possible relation with sperm quality. |
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Keywords: | Anguilla anguilla European eel gonadotropin maturation sperm fatty acids |
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