Spermatological parameters of wild and cultured beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758) and their effects on fertilization rate, hatching rate, larval growth and survival rates

• Main Authors: Madadi, Z., Khara, H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Guilan 2016
• Subjects: Huso huso; Beluga; Survival rate; Growth rate; Sperm motility; Sperm density; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Science; Q; Beluga*
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/c041ef10680d4df6bf997cb6d596734f

To compare the reproductive performance of the wild and cultured stocks of beluga, Huso huso males, some spermatological parameters were measured including: sperm motility, sperm density, spermatocrit and also fertilization rate, hatching rate and larval growth and survival rates. The semen samples were sampled from 11 wild spawners and 12 cultured brooders. A half of each semen sample was allocated for spermatological analysis and remaining were used for artificial propagation. In wild beluga, sperm motility time was 339.09  23.11 s; spermatozoa motility rate 83.64  2.01%; sperm density 15.22  3.46 ×109 and spermatocrit 5.88  1.36% while in cultured beluga, sperm motility time was 199.35  29.02 s; spermatozoa motility rate 74.22  2.4 %; sperm density 8.37  0.24 × 109 and spermatocrit 3.21  0.29 %. The fertilization rate (%), hatching rate (%), larval growth (% g.day1), and survival rate (%) in wild beluga were 61.72  14.16, 43.33  11.13, 12.28  0.33 and 52.66  7.77, while in cultured beluga were 49.98  6.55, 31.47  8.49, 12.28  0.62 and 57.37  7.89, respectively. The spermatozoa motility (the ratio and duration of motility) were significantly different between wild and cultured brooders (P<0.05). The values of sperm density, spermatocrit, fertilization rate, hatching rate, larval growth and survival rate were not significantly different between wild and cultured beluga (P> 0.05).