AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, cilt.39, sa.15, ss.1666-1672, 2008 (SCI-Expanded)
In this research, the mineral and organic composition of the seminal plasma, physical spermatological parameters and their physiological relationships were investigated in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The seminal plasma contained 98.14 +/- 5.23 mM L(-1) (Na(+)), 380.85 +/- 25.95 mM L(-1) (K(+)), 30.25 +/- 4.96 mg dL(-1) (Ca(2+)), 19.16 +/- 1.70 mEq L(-1) (Mg(2+)), 1.36 +/- 0.11 mg dL(-1) glucose, 0.37 +/- 0.08 g dL(-1) total protein, 12.02 +/- 1.18 mg dL(-1) cholesterol, 14.85 +/- 1.50 mg dL(-1) triglyceride and 43.5 +/- 9.56 mg dL(-1) urea. The following spermatological parameters were found: sperm volume 14.44 +/- 1.16 mL, sperm motility 80.60 +/- 1.55%, movement duration 67.68 +/- 4.32 s, density 15.43 +/- 0.72 x 10(9) mL(-1), total density 337.43 + 45.86 x 10(9) and pH 7.24 +/- 0.17. The Na(+) and Ca(2+) ions correlated negatively with spermatozoa motility (r = -0.453, P > 0.05 and r = -0.192, P > 0.05) respectively. The K(+) ion correlated positively with spermatozoa motility (r = 0.545, P > 0.05). But a statistically significant correlation was not observed between sperm motility and seminal plasma parameters. The following correlations were observed between mineral and organic components. The Mg(2+) was positively correlated with glucose and cholesterol (r = 0.692, P < 0.05 and r = 0.680, P < 0.05) respectively. A highly significant positive relationship was also found between Mg(2+) and total protein (r = 0.837, P < 0.01). On the other hand, a significantly negative relationship was found between Ca(2+) and triglyceride (r = -0.639, P < 0.05). These parameters should be considered when developing procedures for either artificial fertilization or for cryopreservation of grass carp sperm.