Studies on the semen biology and sperm cryopreservation in the sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L.

The present study investigated motility, acrosome reaction, fertility and cryobiological parameters of the semen of the sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L. Sperm motility persisted for about 4 min in water, and the main swimming type was the linear motion. Motility was prolonged at osmolalities of 12.5 mosmol kg(-1) and in the presence of magnesium ions, while calcium had no effect. Also a pH in the range of 7.0-9.0 had no effect on ` motility. At osmolalities of 25-50 mosmol kg(-1) the sperm motility was partly inhibited, at osmolalities of 100 mosmol kg(-1), completely and irreversibly. In 50 mosmol kg(-1) solutions with 2.5-5 mM L-1 KCl the motility inhibition was total, but reversible. The acrosome reaction was not induced by one of the described solutions, but the percentage of spermatozoa with reacted acrosomes was low (<20%) and highly variable in all experiments. The optimal extender base for cryopreservation was a solution consisting of 50 mM L-1 NaCl, 5 mM L-1 KCl, 10 mM L-1 Tris (pH 8.5). From the tested cryoprotectants only dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) and methanol provided sufficient cryoprotection. After freezing and thawing, the motility rates and swimming velocities were higher with DMSO than with methanol. However, the fertility was very significantly reduced with DMSO (10.3+/-0.5%) while with methanol fertilization rates in a similar range (32.7+/-4.4%) as with fresh semen (33.90+/-0.8%) could be obtained. Optimal freezing conditions for sterlet semen were in the vapour of liquid nitrogen 3-5 cm (-95degreesC to -85degreesC) above its surface, the optimal thawing conditions at 25degreesC for 30 s. The acrosome reaction was not induced by these cryopreservation protocols.