chapter 3 - RiuNet

CONCLUSIONS
i. The foundations of a standardized and accurate method of
assessing fish sperm quality through the CASA system have been
established, allowing the comparison of both inter and intra
laboratory sperm studies.
ii.
The spermiation process in European eel males was strongly
affected both by temperature and hormonal factors, and an
effective and economically profitable treatment was discovered,
improving the reproducion performance of eel males.
iii.
A short-term sperm storage method for puffer fish sperm was
developed, preserving the sperm quality parameters for a
relatively long-term period (7 days) compared to fresh sperm
samples.
iv.
Both the osmolality and the ion composition of the activation
media had a significant impact on the sperm motion parameters,
consequently playing an essential role in the initiation of the
sperm motility of pufferfish and, probably, of other marine fish.
v. The intracellular concentrations of Ca 2+ and K + increased upon
sperm activation both in pufferfish and European eel, suggesting
that these ions play an important role in the initiation of sperm
motility, as occurs in other marine and freshwater teleosts.
vi.
The sperm/egg ratio and the sperm quality were strongly linked,
suggesting that both should be taken into account as unique
interrelated elements during in vitro fertilization trials.
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