Spermatozoa Motility Parameters of the Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) in a Standardized Solution and Ambient Water

The sunfish are classified as an invasive species after their introduction into a new habitat. Milt quality and spermatozoa movement in several sunfish were described. The aim of this study was to determine the basic milt characteristics and spermatozoa motility parameters in pumpkinseed males after using ambient water and a standardized solution to examine the parameters in mimicked natural conditions and in controlled conditions allowing interspecies data comparisons. Nine spermatozoa motility parameters were traced using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) after activation with 30 mM NaCl and ambient water at 20°C. Spermatozoa motility parameters on activation, except for ALH, differed after using saline solution and ambient water. The CASA parameters were higher in the first medium. On the other hand, spermatozoa motility was high in both media, with an average of 89.6 and 85.2% in saline solution and ambient water, respectively. In the media, initial spermatozoa motility was characterized by a mean curvilinear velocity of 122.4 and 108.5 μm s-1, and a linearity of 79.7 and 67.1%, respectively. The active motility phase in the saline solution was approx. 8 min was longer than that measured in ambient water (mean 3 min). The pumpkinseed spermatozoa reveal good motility parameters, especially the high percentage of motile sperm, linearity, long duration of spermatozoa movement, as well as good velocity. It can be assumed that apart from reproductive strategy, spermatozoa motility parameters are valuable features of the male reproductive biology which may contribute to reproductive success.