Effect of cryopreservation and theophylline on motility characteristics of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) spermatozoa

Computer-assisted motility analysis (CASA) was used to evaluate the effect of cryopreservation and theophylline treatment on sperm motility of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). Motility was recorded at 0 and 5 min postactivation. The effect of cryopreservation on sperm acrosin-like activity was also measured. Cryopreservation led to a decline in the percentage of motile spermatozoa, while other parameters of sperm motion, curvilinear and straight line velocities, linearity and amplitude of lateral head displacement were unchanged. Reductions in straight line velocity observed with fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa and in linearity with cryopreserved spermatozoa 5 min postactivation were not seen in the presence of 5 mM theophylline at this time point. Frozen-thawed spermatozoa retained acrosin-like activity, and it correlated with the percentage of post-thaw motility (r = 0.95 and r = 0.90, P < 0.05, for 0 and 5 min post-activation time, respectively).