Spermatological parameters of wild and cultured beluga (Huso huso Linnaeus, ۱۷۵۸) and their effects on fertilization rate, hatching rate, larval growth and survival rates

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 ۱۱ wild spawners and ۱۲ 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 ۳۳۹.۰۹ ± ۲۳.۱۱ s; spermatozoa motility rate  ۸۳.۶۴ ± ۲.۰۱%; sperm density ۱۵.۲۲ ± ۳.۴۶ ×۱۰۹ and spermatocrit ۵.۸۸ ± ۱.۳۶% while  in cultured beluga, sperm motility time was ۱۹۹.۳۵ ± ۲۹.۰۲ s; spermatozoa motility rate ۷۴.۲۲ ± ۲.۴ %; sperm density ۸.۳۷ ± ۰.۲۴ ×۱۰۹ and spermatocrit ۳.۲۱ ± ۰.۲۹ %. The fertilization rate (%), hatching rate (%), larval growth (% g.day-۱).  and survival rate (%) in wild beluga were ۶۱.۷۲ ± ۱۴.۱۶, ۴۳.۳۳ ± ۱۱.۱۳, ۱۲.۲۸ ± ۰.۳۳ and ۵۲.۶۶ ± ۷.۷۷, while  in cultured beluga were ۴۹.۹۸ ± ۶.۵۵, ۳۱.۴۷ ± ۸.۴۹, ۱۲.۲۸ ± ۰.۶۲ and ۵۷.۳۷ ± ۷.۸۹ respectively. The spermatozoa motility (the ratio and duration of motility) were significantly different between wild and cultured brooders (P<۰.۰۵). 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> ۰.۰۵).

Keywords:

Sperm density , Sperm Motility , Growth rate , Survival rate , Beluga , Huso huso