MOTILITY OF SPERMATOZOA FROM SHOVELNOSE STURGEON AND PADDLEFISH

The spermatozoa in the seminal plasma from shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus and paddlefish Polyodon spathula were immotile with only a few spontaneously motile spermatozoa for 5-10 and 10-20 s, respectively. Spermatozoa of shovelnose sturgeon were observed to be 100% motile immediately after sperm dilution in 10 mM NaCl and 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5. The duration of mass progressive movement was 2-3 min; and 1 to 5% of spermatozoa remain active after 360 s (P<0.01). Spermatozoa of paddlefish demonstrated the best motility 10 s after dilution in 10 mM NaCl with 20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5. The duration of mass progressive movement was 2-3 min and 1 to 5% of spermatozoa remained active after 370 s (P<0.01). The spermatozoa of shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish were motile in a range of osmotic pressure from 0 to 100 mosmol kg(-1) and 0 to 120 mosmol kg(-1), respectively. The best results with short-term storage of sperm from shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish were observed in 100 mM glucose+20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5 and 150 mM glucose+20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.5. (C) 1995 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles