Standardization of fertilization protocols for the European eel, Anguilla anguilla

• Published in: Aquaculture
• Main Authors: Butts, Ian A.E., Sorensen, Sune R., Politis, Sebastian N., Pitcher, Trevor E., Tomkiewicz, Jonna
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Scholarship at UWindsor 2014
• Subjects: Sperm density; Spectrophotometer; Sperm to egg ratio; Fertilization success; Gamete longevity; Artificial fertilization; Biochemistry; Biophysics; and Structural Biology; Physical Sciences and Mathematics; Anguilla anguilla
• Online Access: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/glierpub/102; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2014.01.020

Standardization of artificial fertilization protocols for the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is a prerequisite for optimizing the use of available gametes in hatchery facilities and for conserving sperm from high quality males, which is either cryopreserved or in living gene banks. The objectives of this research were to provide a rapid, accurate and precise method to quantify sperm density by examining the relationship between sperm density and absorbance by use of a spectrophotometer, determine the optimal number of sperm required to fertilize eggs in a controlled setting, and explore how long eggs are receptive to fertilization post-stripping. Mean sperm density and absorbance at 350 nm were 1.54e + 10 +/- 4.95e + 9 sperm/mL and 1.91 +/- 0.22 nm, respectively. Regression analysis demonstrated a highly significant positive relationship between sperm density and absorbance using a spectrophotometer at 350 nm(R-2 - 0.94, p < 0.001, y - 2.273e + 10x - 2.805e + 10); significant but slightly weaker relationships were also detected at 400, 500, and 600 nm (R-2 >= 0.93, p < 0.001). Fertilization success using sperm to egg ratios ranging from 1.3e + 3 to 1.0e + 6 sperm per egg increased from 37.5 to 68.1%, respectively. Spermto egg ratio had a significant effect on fertilization success (p b 0.0001), where fertilization success increased from1.3e + 3 to 2.5e + 4 sperm per egg; adding greater than 2.5e + 4 spermper egg had no significant effect. Furthermore, the duration of time post-stripping had a significant effect on egg fertilization success (p < 0.0001), such that between 0 and 10 min post-stripping 57.4 to 78.2% of the eggs were fertilized while at 15 min post-stripping a significant decrease in fertilization success was detected (47.5%). For all statistical models, the female variance component was significant for fertilization success (p < 0.0001) and explained >= 84% of the models variance. In conclusion, European eel eggs should be fertilized within 10 min post- stripping using 2.5e + 4 ...