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Title: Short-term storage of Atlantic sturgeon spermatozoa

Author
item WOODS, L - University Of Maryland
item DORSEY, K - University Of Maryland
item MOHLER, J - Us Fish And Wildlife Service
item Guthrie, Howard
item Welch, Glenn

Submitted to: American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2009
Publication Date: 4/1/2009
Citation: Woods, L.C., Dorsey, K., Mohler, J., Guthrie, H.D., Welch, G.R. 2009. Short-term storage of Atlantic sturgeon spermatozoa. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting.

Interpretive Summary: n/a

Technical Abstract: There is significant interest to restore the Atlantic sturgeon, a species of concern. Biologists are interested in both the short-term storage and cryopreservation of semen to maximize availability of viable spermatozoa whenever a rare ripe female is found and available for spawning. We conducted short-term storage trials on semen obtained both from captive males, held at the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish Technology Center, Lamar, Pennsylvania that were hormonally induced to spermiate and wild males collected during the spawning season from the Hudson River this past year. Testes of all fish were catheterized to collect semen. Semen samples with motility at the time of collection > 90% were used in initial experiments to quantitatively examine gamete quality over time under experimental conditions. Semen samples were stored under refrigeration (4 + 1C) with and without oxygen. Samples in each gas environment were additionally subdivided into three diluent treatments: non-diluted and two experimental diluents (Modified Tsvetkova or Park & Chapman). Semen samples were collected from individual males and transported chilled at 4 - 6C to the lab. Upon arrival, analyses of gamete quality were obtained for each sample and prior to the administration of any experimental treatments. Approximately 24 hours post-arrival (Day 1) and then every other day for one week (i.e. Day 3, 5, and 7), semen samples were again quantitatively analyzed for quality. Sperm quality parameters evaluated included: motility and curvilinear velocity of motile sperm, using a computer assisted sperm analysis system; cell viability, using a flow cytometer; and cellular ATP levels using a Luciferin-Luciferase bioluminescence assay. Our results indicated that Atlantic sturgeon spermatozoa stored under oxygen retained significantly higher quality than those stored in the absence of oxygen. One experimental diluent appears to mediate the harmful effects of the storage environment that is void of oxygen for up to one week.