Relationships between selected sperm characteristics and fertilisation success in the beluga sturgeon, Huso huso (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

We examined the relationships between a number of sperm characteristics (motility, concentration and pH) and sperm fertility (egg fertilisation and hatching rate) in 10 mature females and four mature males of the beluga sturgeon, Huso huso. The fish were treated with luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonists (LHRHA2), at a dose of 5-10 μg/kg of body weight (BW) by injection into the muscle between the dorsal and lateral scutes. Significant linear relationships were found between sperm pH and fertilisation rate (R2 = 0.82, P < 0.01) and sperm pH and hatching rate (R2 = 0.75, P < 0.05). Highly negative relationships were also observed between sperm concentration and fertilisation rate (R2 =-0.71, P < 0.05) and sperm concentration and hatching rate (R2 = -0.83, P < 0.01). We suggest that understanding these correlations is critical in the evaluation of sperm quality and for the preparation of media (extender) for use in sperm dilution to improve sperm motility/fertility and therefore increase fertilisation success in beluga sturgeon production.